“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:4-5

Darkness is scary. A young man had to deliver milk to nearby farms by foot in the dark. In the daytime he knew the roads and paths well. But in the darkness of night, he had no way of knowing where the potholes and dips were. He had to muster up some boldness to head into the dark.

God also stepped into the darkness of our world — a world filled with evil, sin, violence, and hate. He knew what lay ahead. There would be hatred, suffering, scorn, and abuse. The world would be so accustomed to the darkness, that it would not want it disturbed.

Yet, with boldness, God stepped into the darkness.

Why would He do it? He did it for us. We, the world, were engulfed by this darkness. God knew that for this dark world there was only one hope. To combat the darkness of sin and death, God had to be one of us—a true man. And so, God the Son stepped into the darkness bringing with Him light. He would destroy the powers of darkness by taking upon Himself the sin, violence, guilt, and death that enshrouds the world.

This darkness can overwhelm your life and keep you from your relationship with Jesus. This darkness can be illness, being home-bound, hospital beds. It can be bills, snow and ice or worries.

However, it is in the Word of God, remembering the water of your Baptism, and receiving Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, that shines a light into the darkness that sin has caused.

This Christmas season is exactly the time to again experience the light of Christ shining in your heart and life. He will chase away the darkness with the light of his forgiveness, peace, hope and love.

When you see Christ coming in the manger, you feel the peace of which the Christmas angels sang, “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” When you see Christ coming in the waters of Baptism, you hear the words of the pastor, “The Almighty God– Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has forgiven all your sins. By your baptism, you are born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven.” When you receive Holy Communion, Christ’s very body and blood are coming to you—hidden in the bread and wine.

When you see this little child that Mary is holding in her arms, you are seeing the Son of God who would make the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. When you see the great descendant of David in the stable, you are seeing the King of kings and Lord of lords who has won the victory over your sin, over death, and even over the power of the devil.

When you join with the shepherds in seeing this great thing that the Lord has told you about, you cannot help but praise your God, your Savior, the King of glory, and the light that shines in your darkness. Amen.