Devotional: The Light in Our Darkness
Scripture: John 1:1-14; Isaiah 60:1-3

Imagine standing in total darkness. It’s not just the absence of light, but the unsettling, disorienting kind of darkness that makes you lose your sense of direction. You reach out for something solid—anything—to help ground you, but there’s nothing. That kind of darkness is an apt metaphor for the human condition without Christ.

The Gospel of John opens with words that pierce this darkness: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1, 4). These words echo the creation account, but with an important difference—this isn’t just about physical light dispelling physical darkness. It’s about the eternal Word stepping into the spiritual darkness of a broken world.

Isaiah 60:1-3 paints a vivid picture of this coming light: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you.” The prophet foresaw the day when God’s light would break into our world in a transformative way, illuminating every shadow and reaching every nation.

Think about the darkness we face today—broken relationships, moral confusion, unfulfilled longings, sin or even the gnawing sense that something is missing. The world offers temporary fixes: a new gadget, a distraction, or a self-help mantra. But these are like flashlights with dying batteries in the midst of a blackout. They may offer a flicker of comfort, but they can never truly dispel the darkness.

Jesus doesn’t merely offer light; He is the Light. He doesn’t just show the way; He is the Way. When John writes that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), he’s describing the ultimate act of love and condescension. The eternal God stepped into time and space, entering the very darkness we created by our rebellion.

But here’s the astonishing part: this Light isn’t distant. It’s personal. John describes Jesus as “dwelling” among us. The word here means “tabernacling” or pitching His tent. It’s a deliberate callback to the Old Testament, when God’s presence dwelled among His people in the tabernacle. Jesus is Emmanuel—God with us—not in theory, but in reality.

Isaiah’s prophecy doesn’t stop at individual illumination. It envisions nations drawn to this light: “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3). This reminds us that the light of Christ isn’t just for personal comfort; it’s for global proclamation. The same light that transforms hearts is meant to shine outward, reaching into every corner of the earth.

Let’s reflect on how this applies to us:

• Are you walking in darkness? Perhaps there are areas of your life where the light of Christ hasn’t yet reached—places where sin, fear, or doubt still hold sway. Bring those into His light. The invitation is always open: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• How are you reflecting the Light? As followers of Christ, we are called to be light-bearers. Jesus Himself said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This isn’t a command to generate your own light—it’s about reflecting His. In practical terms, this might mean showing kindness to someone overlooked, offering forgiveness when it’s undeserved, or speaking truth in love when it’s risky.
• Do you anticipate the full revelation of this Light? Advent reminds us that while Christ has already come, His work is not yet complete. We live in the tension of the “already” and the “not yet,” looking forward to the day when the light of His glory will cover the earth as waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Until then, we live as people of hope, pointing others to the Light that has come and is coming again.

The darkness we experience now is real, but it’s temporary. The light of Christ is eternal, and it grows brighter with every passing day. As we prepare for this Sunday’s message, let’s not only marvel at the light that shone in Bethlehem but also walk in it, reflect it, and share it with a world desperate for hope.