December 26
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined,” Isaiah 9:2.
About 750 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Light of the world for all people living in spiritual darkness. When Jesus began His Galilean ministry, the evangelist Matthew reported, “Leaving Nazareth He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned,’” Matthew 4:13-16.
Speaking of Jesus, true God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the evangelist John also speaks of the forerunner of Jesus – namely, John the Baptist: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of the Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world,” John 1:6-9.
Later in his Gospel, John quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,” John 8:12. “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world,” John 9:4-5.
All of our Christmas candles and Christmas lights are little symbols to remind us that we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Light of the world!
When we were born, we were in spiritual darkness. We were conceived and born in sin. “(We) were dead in trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1. We were without hope of eternal life. Through the witness of Christian parents or someone else, we heard the Good News of the Christmas Gospel: “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2:11.
Through the word of the Law, the Holy Spirit brought us to the knowledge of our sinfulness and spiritual hopelessness. Then, through the Gospel, the Holy Spirit called us to faith in Jesus, the Light of the world. In his Second Epistle, the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” 2 Corinthians 4:6.
The apostle Peter wrote in his First Epistle, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” 1 Peter 2:9.
Yes, Christmas Day will soon have come and gone, but the Light of Christmas continues to shine in the glorious Gospel message: God sent His Son to be your Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Thank Him and praise Him for sending you a Savior, and share this message with others who are still sitting in spiritual darkness!
O God of God, O Light of Light, Thou Prince of Peace, Thou King of kings!
To Thee, where angels know no night, The song of praise forever rings,
To Him who sits upon the throne, The Lamb once slain for sinful men,
Be honor, might, all by Him won, Glory and praise! Amen, Amen.