An Unexpected Light

“I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12

I heard the ticking of the family room wall clock as I crept down the dark stairway. I had forgotten to unplug the Christmas tree lights before going to bed, so when I woke up just after midnight I snuck downstairs to turn them off. Rounding the corner, I paused in awe of the soft, delicate glow of gleaming, white lights. The shine reflecting off dangling ornaments threw beams of light in all directions of the otherwise dark room. I had seen the Christmas lights in the evening while washing dishes and overseeing kids’ homework, but in the dark stillness of this night, I experienced their brilliance in a deeper way.

In the darkness of a night with no street lamps or city lights to illuminate their fields, shepherds stood watch over their vulnerable flocks when “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:9, emphasis mine). God chose the dark stillness of night to send His promised Savior to our salvation-starved world. It’s not ironic Jesus calls Himself “the Light of the world” (John 8:12), because His presence literally lit up the night of His birth, and continues to be a light to Christ-followers today.

Jesus offers us a contrasting perspective to the darkest parts of our world, sin and death. When held up against those two dark realities, His free gift of salvation and freedom shine brighter than our fears and doubts. Rest assured, though, He is present and shining in our most mundane days as well. Candles don’t burn brighter at night than they do by day. It’s our ability to see that changes, not the light itself.  Jesus is the Light that fills your soul with peace in an unexpected moment, the Light that calms your fears as you tuck children in at night, the Light that reminds you just how loved you are when you feel unlovable. Jesus is the Light that took on the darkness of this world one day at a time. First, as a tiny baby lying in a manger on a dark night and finally on the day He left a dark tomb and overcame darkness once and for all.

Christmas is a season of lights. As we shift our perspectives to see the contrasting beauty of an eternal Light against the darkness of this world, we have reason to celebrate. Let’s do our part to reflect Jesus’ Light of hope this Christmas season. 

Faith & Family columnist Jena Meyerpeter loves celebrating Christmas in Kansas City, where lights and traditions are renowned.