Saturday December 25, 2021
CHRISTMAS DAY
THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS
SCRIPTURE: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5
Glory! In a burst of light and song, the darkness that marked centuries of waiting was consumed by the glory of heaven as God incarnate was born. The true God of true God, Light from Light eternal had arrived, and from the earliest moments of Christ’s presence on earth hope was offered to those often overlooked and dismissed. Shepherds heard this good news for all people and rejoiced, as real hope had now come. This wasn’t a vague, abstract theory; a child was born, flesh and blood, who was accompanied by the full glory of heavenly song. The Light of the world had come, and nothing could diminish it.
Light shining in the darkness – that’s something I sense we long for as much today as those shepherds did 2000 years ago. In a world that becomes more convoluted and chaotic by the minute, we desperately want to see God’s goodness cut through the dark and dreary brokenness that surrounds us. We want to see hope break in; we want to see justice come for all who are taken advantage of. We want to be reminded that someone is here with us who understands our difficulties and will overcome them when we inevitably falter. We need the One, True Light that cannot be overcome to break into our lives anew. Which is exactly what happens as the Christ child is born.
In Christmas, God joins humankind, coming beside us in the middle of the brokenness and strife. God, in the person of Jesus, meets us in the struggles of life. Christ Jesus experiences and overcomes every challenge, including death. The Light of Christ shines brightly and nothing – in this world or beyond it – can overcome it. That is truly good news.
So, dear friends, rejoice and sing! The Savior of the world has come! The eternal Light of Christ shine brightly in the darkness, and darkness will never overcome it.
PRAYER: Amazing God, thank you for meeting us in our brokenness by sending the gift of your Son, Jesus the Christ. Guide us to place our full trust in you as we behold and celebrate the good news of Christ’s birth, and strengthen us to go and tell this good news to all people. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Pastor Brad
