Christmas 2025
I have heard this phrase so many times during this Christmas season and spent some time reflecting on it. I share these reflections below. I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I excitedly exclaim, “Our Light has come!”
Jesus, the Light That Pierces the Darkness
From the opening lines of Scripture in the Book of Genesis to the words of Jesus Himself, light is a prominent and powerful image in the Bible. Light represents life, truth, revelation, and the very presence of God. Darkness, on the other hand, represents chaos, sin, fear, and separation.
So when Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world” in John 8:12, He is not introducing a new idea or concept. He is building on something that happened in the beginning. He is fulfilling something that began at the creation of the world.
Light, the Beginning of Everything
The Book of Genesis (first book of the Bible) opens in darkness:
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. (Genesis 1:2 NKJV)
Before there was anything – land, sun, moon, stars, structure, animals, people – there was darkness. God’s first recorded act was not to organize or decorate, but to speak light into existence.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3 NKJV)
If we really stop and think about it, this is striking. God creates light before anything else. Light was the only thing He created at that point. Light was first and everything at that point, even before the sun, moon, and stars, which all came on day four (Genesis 14-19).
We see then the light of Genesis 1 is not dependent on celestial bodies. Rather, we see that light is a direct expression of God Himself. Further, light did not struggle against darkness. It simply appeared at God’s command, and the darkness retreated.
God does not negotiate with the darkness. He speaks, and light pierces it. From the very beginning, long before Jesus came, light is God’s answer to darkness.
Jesus, the Fulfillment of the Light
If we then jump to the New Testament and the Gospel of John, we see echoes of Genesis as John helps us connect the creation of the world and Christ:
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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5 NKJV)
Jesus is not merely A light. He is THE Light. The same God who spoke light into the darkness of creation has now stepped into the darkness of a broken world in human form. This is Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
So, going back to John 8:12, when Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” He is claiming divine authority. He is saying, “I am the answer to the darkness you see within yourself and in the world around you.”
Light That Reveals, Not Just Comforts
Light can bring a sense of safety, security, warmth, and comfort. Light can also reveal and illuminate things that might not otherwise be seen. It exposes what is hidden and what wants to remain hidden. That can be uncomfortable, to say the least! Darkness often feels safer because it conceals, but it also traps.
Jesus’ light reveals truth about God’s heart, our hearts, our need for Him, and what leads to eternal life versus what leads to death. This can seem daunting, scary, and overwhelming, and these reactions can cause us to resist the light.
But, the light that is Jesus is revelation, not condemnation. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Jesus did not come to shame the world, but to save it (John 3:16-17). His light exposes in order to heal.
I think we can all agree that the world needs light and healing.
Light That Still Pierces Darkness Today
Just as in Genesis, darkness still exists, and it goes by many names: confusion, suffering, sin, despair, deception, and the list goes on. Just as in the days of Genesis, darkness is not defeated by force, arguments, or effort. It is defeated by light.
Jesus does not ask us to generate our own light. He invites us to receive His.
When life feels chaotic, His light brings order.
When truth feels blurred, His light brings clarity.
When hope feels distant, His light brings life.
Darkness is not the final word. It never has been. We see this so clearly with Jesus’ death and resurrection. It was the darkness of the world that pierced Him, and it was for our darkness that He was pierced (Isaiah 53:5). Darkness didn’t win, though. His light overcame it all upon His resurrection. The world, the enemy, our sin and our iniquities were defeated. Not once, but forevermore.
The message of the Bible is consistent:
God’s answer to darkness is Himself, and wherever Jesus is welcomed, light breaks through.
Jesus is the light that pierces and overcomes darkness.
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