For many, the Christmas season brings about thoughts of joy and good memories. However, for some, this season can evoke thoughts of darkness. Some become depressed or lonely. Others struggle with grief or loss over a loved one. For others still it can trigger trauma from one’s past. It can even cause us to consider the darkness in the world. War, poverty, disease; this cannot be a part of God’s ideal world, right?
As dark as this season can be for some, Advent provides some light. We see a glimpse of this light at the beginning of the Book of John. Out of the 4 Gospels, John begins a little differently. John does not begin his Gospel with the Genealogy of Jesus like Matthew, or John the Baptist like Mark and Luke. John goes all the way back to the very beginning, before creation, before the Garden of Eden, before Genesis 1 even happened. John does this to show that Jesus is eternal, divine, and the very source of life itself. John did not want us to just see what Jesus did, but rather who Jesus is.
John 1:4-5 says this: “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.” This passage is so encouraging. John is showing us that Jesus is more than just alive, but is the source of all life. Jesus does not just carry a light, but rather, Jesus is light. He reveals God, exposes the truth, guides us out of darkness, and gives us spiritual life. Something else that is important to note is that John describes that Jesus, being the light, did not just shine once at one point. Jesus is still shining now, continuing to confront darkness. Finally, John describes how no darkness, no evil or ignorance or pain or brokenness, can overpower the light that is Jesus. Jesus is the Light, eternal and undefeatable, and is still shining into the darkness today.
What does it mean, though, that Jesus is Light? We can see that Jesus is light in a few ways:
- Jesus exposes what is hidden. He does this not to condemn us, but to heal and free us.
- Jesus guides. Jesus is the Light that shows us the way forward when life feels confusing or dark.
- Jesus brings hope where darkness seems strongest. Things do not just get easier instantly, but Jesus’ presence is stronger than any fear, grief, or evil we encounter.
- Jesus’ Light is not seasonal. We are in a time where there are plenty of lights and joy all around us. However, in the end, Christmas comes and goes, and the next thing you know, it’s January. The lights of Christmas, both physical and metaphorical, get unplugged. However, Jesus’ Light is eternal, and nothing can unplug it.
This Christmas season, as we ponder the darkness that can weigh on our hearts or the world around us, take a step toward the Light Himself. Invite Jesus in prayer to shine His Light in us. Let us bring our grief, sin, loneliness, and all that clouds us honestly before Him and trust that His presence is stronger than anything we may face. As well, we should return to the Light daily through studying Scripture. View spending time in Scripture not as a duty or a chore, but instead as a way of letting Jesus guide you in your present situation. This is a season that can quickly become filled with plans, noise, and hurrying to do last-minute tasks that can make us feel lost. Even a few quiet moments in the Word can help us centre our hearts on Jesus again. As His light fills us, we can also let it shine through us. Many of those around us, whether we can see them or not, have not seen light in a while. Allowing Jesus’ Light to shine through us to show kindness, patience, and compassion to others can bring a glimmer of hope to their hearts. Wherever we are met with anger, bring gentleness; wherever we see someone hurting, bring them comfort; wherever darkness seems to take hold, bring the steady glow of Christ’s love.
Ultimately, Advent reminds us that the light we have now is only a taste of the far greater Light that is still to come. Jesus’ Light shines today, but one day it will shine in full, and all darkness will be overcome forever. Until that day, we live as people of hope, receiving His light, reflecting His light, and looking forward to the day when He returns and the world is made new.
