A Christmas Musing: Shine your Light!

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5

In the Gospel of John Jesus is presented as the light of the world.  There is an interesting point I recently discovered in my study about this interaction of light with darkness.

While the first chapter of John’s Gospel is most famous for its introduction of Jesus as the Word (?????), in this chapter we are also presented with the  images of light and darkness.  John introduces these images to reveal that Jesus is, “life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  In this verse there is an interesting tense of the Greek verb translated ‘comprehend.’  The word is literally “overcame” and it  reasonable to view this text as presenting darkness as attacking the light in a “bitter and decisive conflict.”  John is presenting an aggressive confrontation between light and darkness, in which one must actively overcome the other.  According to John the darkness is attacking the light.  John  presents Jesus’ arrival on the world stage as an event which is met by active, aggressive opposition.  From the very beginning of his Gospel John presents not just a distinction but a an active confrontation between the light and the darkness.

Throughout John’s gospel we learn that this darkness that opposes Jesus is the world.  John defines the world’s opposition to Christ variously as:

1. The Jews,
2. Man in general,
3. Jesus’ own disciples,
4. Pharisees or religious rulers, and
5. The Roman officials.

This thought of darkness attacking light (and the fact that Jesus’ own disciples could at times be numbered with Jesus’ opponents)  provoked in me the following questions:

• “Am I ever part of Christ’s opposition?”
• “Am I consistently acting as one of His disciples?”
• “Do I always live in a manner that sheds light?”
• “Do I, by my own actions, ever aid the attack of darkness?”

After prayer and reflection I have discovered that yes there are times when (Excuses: I am tired, frustrated, or not feeling spiritual) I must honestly answer that instead of reflecting Christ’s light I contribute to the attack of darkness.”

As I see all the beautiful lights in my neighborhood this Christmas I am reminded of the reality that as a Christian I exist in this battle between light and darkness as a single bulb.  Alone I am not very impressive or effective, but when placed in an arrangement of other bulbs for Christ’s glory what beauty and luminosity we exhibit.  This Christmas as you enjoy all of the Christmas lights remember that alone we are not much, but together we can make a beautiful display and we also pierce the darkness!  So keep shining for Jesus, because He is the reason for the season! ! ! !