“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

It is a modern phenomenon which brings about a deep or total darkness. When at night the moon is new, clouds cover the sky, it is raining and all fires are out, one is in a place away from the city and traffic, and the electricity goes out. No light is to be seen. When this happens, many times a storm is here or on the way. This is the image Isaiah is painting when Isaiah speaks of those “walking in darkness” and “living in the land of deep darkness.”

Jesus would speak of the darkness in our physical bodies as he speaks of the health of one’s eyes. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

It is from this depth of darkness that light has shined in the world. It is the light of the dawn, where the light appears through the horizon and begins to peek over the land until it is in full brilliance at the height of the day. It is the opening of a healthy eye which floods the body with light, that one may know where they are, where they are going and what is around them. This is the picture of what Jesus has come to bring to a world of darkness.

John declares of Jesus “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) Jesus would say, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Jesus is the great light which has come into a world of darkness. Where He is, light reveals the sin of man and the path to life is revealed. “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46) He is the path to life and the way to live in the light of God.

When we come to the light, which is Jesus Christ, he begins to develop that light in us. In speaking to His disciples, He says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) He dwells in us that His light may shine through our lives as we do good deeds, which are also the good works which God has brought into our lives to do. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) We do these good works because when the light, Jesus Christ, comes into our lives, He demonstrates His love through us as we love our neighbor. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14)

We live in a dark world which needs the love of God. Jesus came to bring light into the world. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be filled with the light of Jesus Christ where His light shines through us, that the world may see Jesus Christ and be drawn into the new life He has come to give. A new life which will never end.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block