“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
The interesting thing about the properties of light is that there is no way to keep it from pushing away the darkness. Sure, you can stand in front of the light and try to block it by casting a shadow, but somehow the light always manages to bounce its way into the darkness.
Even the smallest of lights can dispel the darkness. I know this to be true. We used to have a piece of electronics in our bedroom with one of those tiny, almost imperceptible LED lights. During the daytime, the light was imperceptible, but then came the night when we would try to go to sleep. Once the other lights were off, that little light would shine like the sun and give its little green glory to every droopy-eyed person around.
The light shined in the darkness, and I can tell you, we tried lots of things to try to make the darkness overcome it. The light shined through tissues, paper, fabric, and even spread around the sides of a box we tried to use to block the gleam.
I guess what I am trying to tell you is this: when light decides to shine, it shines.
Jesus, the light of the world, has come to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, a land of promise.
The land has fallen under the darkness of the Roman empire and its worldly goals, but Jesus has arrived on the scene, and the people who sit with heads held down, oppressed in the land, have seen a great light. There is nothing that is going to stop this light from shining all over the place.
You know how the biblical story goes of course; people will try to snuff out the light. Those who are opposed to Jesus’ ideals of love of neighbor, prayer for the enemy, care for the destitute, raising up of the oppressed and sick, and living simply without the trappings of stuff all try to find ways to dispose of God’s light in the land.
You know how the story goes. First, they will try to discredit him by trying to trick him into saying something incriminating. That fails.
You know how the story goes. they will try to pressure him through the consternation of his peers. That fails.
You know how the story goes. They will try to intimidate him into silence. That fails.
You know how the story goes. They will nail him to a cross.
And, yes, you know how the story goes. When he is buried in the tomb, not even the cold earth could keep the light of God from piercing through the closed eyes of a sleepy world; a world asleep to God’s radical kind of love.
God’s light in Jesus Christ, shines through the stones of the tomb and even an attempt to snuff out the source of eternal light fails.
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
Another interesting thing about the properties of God’s light (otherwise known as God’s Holy Spirit) is that it is often envisioned as fire. Different from the cool, passive light of an LED, fire spreads. It leaps from one place to another in a matter of seconds, defying those who would seek to put it out.
We see this happen right in the beginning of the story of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus calls out into the darkness for people to turn from their worldly ways in a worldly kingdom. Calling people to live a different life of simplicity, love of neighbor, and prayer for the enemy, the light starts to catch. Two fishermen, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew have the light shined on them. Like a spark falling on dry leaves, the fire of the Holy Spirit causes them to simply drop their nets and follow. The light is starts to spread, and continues to spread to this day. Can you feel it?
The light starts out as one, and then it is three. Many years have passed from then until now, but the light continues to spread, lighting the entire world with God’s kingdom of grace. It has even spread to you, right where you are.
In just a few verses Jesus is going to declare a great truth. It is a truth that sometimes we forget. It is a truth that we do not always hold close to our hearts, but it is a truth that is none-the-less true.
You are the light of the world.
You are God’s light.
You are the people who live in this place…this earthly kingdom…but act as if you live in the heavenly one.
You are the light of the world.
God’s light of love is in you, and if you get your appendages out of the way, allowing any shadows to move off to the side, that light will be clear for all who live in a land of darkness.
After-all, there is darkness in the world. People’s bodies are exploited by others and are often underpaid. People's bodies are overcome by bad influences and substances. People’s bodies are directed in ways of hate toward the stranger rather than love. People’s bodies have been taken over by the ways of the world that look to only the self.
Self first, the world says. Self only, the world screams. Love of self rings clearly from our television sets and from the billboards along our streets.
But, you are not of the world. You are in the world, but you are not of the world. You are light. You are God’s light. You are the same light that decided to die on the cross, that others might be saved.
By grace you have been saved, and this took the sacrifice of someone else, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ decided that life cannot be found in the ways of the world. Jesus Christ explicitly chose not to live in the darkness. Instead he chose to be light.
Jesus is the light of the world, and because he has called out to you, you too are the light of the world. Come, leave behind the ways of the world. Come, follow the light of the world. Come, be, be the light of the world.
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