Darkness.
When we imagine the birth of Christ, we think of darkness, of night, of stars. But during His birth, Christ enters into more significant darkness than just that of physical night. Christ enters into the darkness of sin in the world, and His entrance is at the beginning, even before creation.
When God created our world, He intended light, beautiful perfection. He created a beautifully perfect man, Adam, and gave him a beautifully perfect wife, Eve, He gave them a beautifully perfect relationship with each other and with Him, their creator. Light.
But even in His creation of the world, He knew. He knew it would soon be marred by darkness. Sin entered - darkness. Fear entered - more darkness. Death entered - more darkness still. The Father knew it all. The Father knew He would need a plan. Some way to bring LIGHT into this darkness.
There was a plan. From BEFORE creation, before the beginning of time, there was a plan. The Almighty God Himself was going to send down His Son, Jesus, part of Himself, for restoration. Jesus would be a beacon of light into the darkness. Jesus was prophesied all throughout the Old Testament, and we see Jesus’s light shining in the attributes mentioned in Isaiah 9:6:
“For unto us a child will be born, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Wow. Christ’s attributes in this passage are outstanding. Wonder for the skeptic. Counsel for the weary. Might for the weak. Eternality for the dying. Father for the fatherless. Prince of peace for the mocked and warring.
Light for the Darkness.
And we as Christ followers are commanded to be light into the darkness. We are invited to join in His mission of restoration with His love through us.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."Matthew 5:16
May we remember His light this Christmas season!