From darkness to light

This Sunday, as we examine the Scripture lessons for the second Sunday after Christmas, we discover that Jesus has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. It is important to understand that darkness has no power. There is no such thing as a darkness generator. You cannot project darkness onto a wall. You cannot turn on a device that makes a room dark. Darkness is utterly powerless. It is simply the absence of light. Darkness has no force. You cannot turn on the darkness. You can only turn off the light. Darkness is negative.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. He illuminates everything that had been in the shadow of darkness.

Just like at creation, God did not leave the earth wrapped in darkness, so He did not abandon His creatures to sin's darkness either. He sent His Son into the world to overpower it. The first darkness of creation was physical. The much more damaging darkness that overcame creation after the Fall into sin was a deep and foreboding spiritual darkness.

This spiritual darkness was not about to go quietly. It stirred King Herod to try to slaughter the young child among the young boys in Bethlehem. Throughout the days of His public ministry, it tried to silence Jesus through threats and persecution. Finally, on the cross and in the sealed grave it looked as though darkness had snuffed out the Light. But on the third day Christ arose, shining His light of victory over sin, Satan, death and hell forever. 

This world still tries to snuff out the Light-to take the Christ out of our Christmas. But Jesus remains our Light, our Lord, our Savior, and the Mighty One who will come to judge all.