A Light Shines in the Darkness

Looking at the Jewish calendar I noticed today is the beginning of Hanukkah, the festival of lights celebrating how God miraculously provided 8 days of oil to keep the Menorah burning when they only had enough oil for one.

It was this festival of lights that got me pondering what Jesus said.

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:2)

I then considered the lyrics of “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light,
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.

What caught my attention and from which I had to find out more was this last lyric, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

Since we don’t know exactly when Jesus was born, isn’t it ironic that we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, on what is considered the darkest day of the year. It’s significant that we celebrate Jesus’ birth during this time, because the birth of Jesus brought light to the darkest times.

This is probably why the third line in the song reads, “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light.”

The Light of the World was born in the darkest time of the year.

The deliverance from all that haunts the human predicament comes on one of the darkest nights of the year. This is exactly what the prophet Isaiah foretold of this child who would be Messiah.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Therefore, let the Light of Jesus shine through you in these days of such sin filled darkness.