What do you think of when you see Christmas lights?
Light is a powerful symbol and is used often in the Bible, particulary in the New Testament and more particularly in reference to Jesus.
When Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms, he blessed God for the child, whom he said would be “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.”
The apostle John referred to Jesus as the “Light” that “shines in the darkness” and which “coming into the world, enlightens every man.” (John 1:5, 9). Jesus said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5).
Light enables us to see. Without it we are blind. Darkness hides; light reveals. Light is a metaphor for that which brings understanding, that which enables us to see Truth.
The world into which Jesus shone and shines is described as darkness. It’s described as dark because it’s a place where people are blind to reality. They don’t see their own slavery to sin or their contribution to the darkness.
So, next time you see Christmas lights remember, the good news of Christmas is that since Jesus’ birth “the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.” (I John 2:8). GS