Light of the world

I have come into the world as a light,
so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness
(John 12:46)

One of my annual traditions is a trip to the West End to see the Christmas Lights. It’s become so much of a pattern that I now follow virtually the same walking route every year! While some of the displays are more impressive and tasteful than others, I Iove wandering through the brightly lit streets and squares at what can otherwise feel like quite a dark and dismal time of the year.
 
The story of Christmas is full of light. Centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied that “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). At the start of his Gospel, John describes Jesus as the light of all mankind, something that Jesus Himself later confirms when he declares “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
 
Looking across the world today, and even nearer to home, there seems to be so much going on that speaks of darkness. We see wars and disputes that no amount of human wisdom or ingenuity seems able to resolve. We see the accelerating impact of climate change on a fragile world, yet too little focused effort to address it. In so many situations we see the powerful win and the vulnerable lose out. And the reality of things like these can so easily drag us into a sense of hopelessness.
 
But light brings hope. And the Light of the World brings hope to the world. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Christmas reminds us that the God who created the world doesn’t stand remote from it, but stepped down into darkness in the person of Jesus, opening up a way for us to enjoy friendship with God and showing us how to live selflessly in a way that’s good both for us and for other people. And we won’t always get it right. But as the Light of the World calls us, in turn, to be lights in the world, our attitudes, actions and witness will make a huge difference, bringing restoration and hope to the situations we live in and the lives of those of whom we are a part.
 
Prayer - Lord Jesus, help us this Christmas to rediscover, or discover for the first time, the certain and eternal hope that can be found in you, the Light of the World. And strengthen and guide us to live day by day in that light, as people of light. Amen