“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, NIV
“Light” is a fascinating thing. For most of us it’s difficult to define, but we know it’s real. Sure, there’s probably a detailed scientific definition for light that references electromagnetic waves and such. There are even different ways to measure its strength.
It’s not something we can physically touch like a table or chair. We can’t smell or taste it. There’s no fleshiness to it. It doesn’t laugh or cry. Light makes no sound.
But there’s no arguing whether light exists. We can definitely see it. And there’s no mistaking its absence—darkness is a very real thing.
That’s why it’s perfect that Jesus calls himself “the light of the world.” Sometimes it’s hard to define Jesus because we can’t physically touch or smell him. Some say they’ve heard him, but most have never heard a booming voice from the sky.
But there’s no mistaking his very real and tangible presence in our lives. Sometimes, we can actually feel his warmth like a ray of sunlight.
Bible scholars often talk about the incarnation—the idea that God became flesh in Jesus Christ. In other words, something abstract and hard to define became something very real and tangible; a presence so measurable that his birth, life, death, and resurrection altered the trajectory of the world.
This is the amazing thing about the Christmas story: the light of the world had finally come to provide a way for mankind to escape the darkness and experience eternal joy. No more waiting for promises to be fulfilled. The light had come! Jesus was real. He was here. And our world would never be the same.
Dear Jesus, thank you for stepping out from the loftiness of the heavens and down into the nitty-grittiness of our world. Help us to experience the very real and tangible light that your presence brings into our lives. Amen.
This devotional can be done in conjunction with BLINK, the Christmas storybook for children. Pick up your copy at Waumba Land or UpStreet this Sunday.
