A Sunrise, a Light from on High {Christmas Meditation #2}

Electricity is a wonderful convenience until we lose it on a stormy night. Suddenly it is so dark we cannot see the hand in front of our face. As we stumble over chairs and other furniture seeking some source of light we truly know what it is like to experience darkness.

John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah refers to people who sit in darkness, and the prophet Isaiah refers to people walking in darkness. Neither of them are referring to physical darkness but to darkness of the soul. Just as we have all experienced physical darkness on a stormy night, we have all experienced darkness of the soul as we traverse the sufferings brought on by this evil world and by our own sin. There is no light within us but a light does come from elsewhere. It comes from God.

Isaiah declares that the light comes from the birth of a child:

“For to us a child is born
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
Isaiah 9:6

Zechariah declares that a sunrise, a light from on high shall visit us (Luke 1:78,79). Now, the word “visit” is packed full of meaning. When I was very young my paternal Grandmother would come for a visit. She lived two states away so the visits were only a couple of times a year. These visits were special for they brought us her love, a love expressed in very tangible ways as she brought a present for each one of her grandchildren. Grandma’s visit had much meaning.

The very tangible way in which the light of God has come to us is in the person of His Son, God’s gift to us, visiting us. Zechariah outlines in his prophesy (Luke 1:68-79) something of the significance of this gift. (1) Redemption is ours for Christ died for the sins of the world. Christ’s (2) tender mercies and (3) forgiveness of sins come to all who turn to Him. He has brought a (4) strong salvation which has obtained victory over the enemies of our souls, the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. He has shown us (5) the way to peace and has (6) taken away all fear of condemnation. Though Zechariah’s prophesy is focused towards the nation of Israel the themes expand to all of us as unfolded in the book of Acts. Our God has visited us in Christ. He is the light that shines when our times of darkness come.

Marty currently serves on the Chaplain team of Skyword ministries at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and resides with his wife in the suburbs of Chicago.

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