The Light This Christmas

The Light This Christmas –

This Christmas season I have noticed a reoccurring theme in my readings and ponderings: light in the darkness.

I have loved contemplating the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks by night. They experienced a drastic blast of light into their darkness that night when the angel came to announce Jesus’ birth (“… and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:9)! How beautiful that demonstration of light bursting into the darkness just as Jesus’ birth was to this dark world on that day. It moves me to tears to think of it like that. Jesus, our light, our hope.

A whole host of angels joined them and sang their song of celebration for the new born Savior of the world.

No doubt those shepherds understood that something supernatural had happened that would change everything. They went to see this new baby King whom the angel described as a Savior, Christ the Lord.  I imagine they were never the same after that encounter. When they had seen Him they told many all that had happened. They couldn’t keep quiet! They returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them (Luke 2:20).

Throughout the years I have highlighted just about every verse in the Bible that has to do with light. There is such hope in that word.

“To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79

This light and peace are found in Jesus.

What hope can we offer to those who sit in darkness? Those who have pain and sorrow beyond comfort or reconciliation? We can show them the One who offers peace with God and eternal life. The One whose love for us cannot be expressed any more profoundly than that He chose to die for our salvation. Jesus, Savior of the world.

When I minister to my friends at the assisted living facility, I often feel woefully under qualified by way of identifying with their situations. They live with hard realities: severely limiting disabilities, pain, loneliness, loss of autonomy. Their lives are there in that place, within the walls of the building. They don’t see sunrises or visit the ocean shores any longer. Some may never have had opportunities they always dreamed of, and now they most likely never will. How can I bring light to their darkness?

Jesus suffered as we do. He knew He would be rejected and accused, hated and betrayed.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4, 5

He is there with us in the suffering. He is the light when everything else has lost its promise of hope. There is nothing that can compare with the gift of reconciliation with God, to know His love and forgiveness and presence. The things of this world can pull us down, but the gift of Jesus, the promise of His love and eternal life, is better than anything this world can ever offer. Temporary things and circumstances don’t provide lasting hope and security. Good things come and go. Circumstances change. But God is with us always – Emmanuel.

Though it may be dark in this place

You are here with me.

Lighten my countenance and grant me Your peace.

There You are, Lord

My light in the darkness.

Glory surrounds You as it always has and it always will.

May my life shine as a city on a hill

Your glory to those

Who need Light in this world.