“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9.2,6).
Once again, festive lights have been hung on the lampposts along Dayton Boulevard near my home. You’re probably seeing such lights too. They herald the arrival of Christmas, the season of lights. Lights on trees, candles in windows, and radiant lights are everywhere!
From Isaiah’s perspective, light is not just decorative but symbolic. The darkness of evil and ignorance characterize our world. Look at what was happening at the time of Jesus’ birth - violence, injustice, abuse of power, homelessness, refugees fleeing oppression, families ripped apart, and endless grief. It all sounds very contemporary. And let us remember that no politician, scholar, or so-called expert can fix it. The darkness is too deep. One world leader of the late twentieth century insightfully said: “Pursuit of the good life will not help humanity save itself, nor is democracy alone enough…A turning to and seeking of…God is needed.” Ever since mankind’s fall in the Garden, humanity forgets that it is not God.
Into this darkness, Isaiah says God’s light has “dawned.” Immediately we think of the sun and the blessings it brings - life, sight, beauty. (In places where only a few hours of daylight appear, many suffer depression.) We need light for joy, and the prophet is saying that knowing God is the source of a beauty and joy that illumines our soul! “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee,” Augustine astutely said. He was right. All joy is really found in God and knowing Him.
The light that has dawned, bringing the joy of knowing God, concerns “a child who is born.” He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” How interesting! The four titles belonging to this child belong to God Himself, and yet He is “born.” The child is human, and yet He is God! Using theological speak, this is the wonder of the incarnation - the birth of God/man.
But just as wonderful as His birth is the light of life this child brings to those who receive Him. Notice Isaiah says not just “to us a child is born” but also “to us a son is given.” This “Child” and “Son” is God’s gift to us. He can only be yours if you receive Him as God’s gift of grace.
Later in the “Servant Songs” of Isaiah (chapters 42-55), we see more clearly what is involved. The prophet speaks of a mysterious Deliverer who would come and “was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53.5). When Jesus went to the cross, He paid the penalty for our sin. When we receive and trust in Him alone as our Sin-Bearer, rather than in our moral efforts, God forgives, accepts, and sends within us His Spirit - the Light of Life. Reflecting on all this, Dorothy Sayers said, “The incarnation means that for whatever reason God chose to let us fall…to suffer, to be subject to sorrows and death - [but] he has nonetheless had the honesty and the courage to take his own medicine…He was born in poverty and…suffered infinite pain - all for us - and thought it well worth his while.”
Jesus is the Light who has dawned, the Child who is born, the Son who is given. As the infinite God/man, He suffered and died under the curse and misery we deserve. But then, three days later, He rose triumphant from the grave. As the Light of the World, He brings a new life to replace our spiritual deadness, and He is the beauty and joy our hearts long for but never know apart from Him. Let us receive Him and cherish Him as God’s greatest gift to us. Then we will say, the Light has dawned in this world and in us!
Bill Massey, Interim Senior Pastor
