Light From Darkness

The Dawn from on High...

The September issue of ‘Good Housekeeping’ ran a feature titled, ‘44 Unique Nativity Sets to Display This Christmas.’I won’t list all of them, but here are a few of the more unusual ones:

crocheted

soapstone

Peanut’s figures as Mary, Joseph and so on

stained glass - several different styles

recycled cardboard

nesting dolls

recycled paper.

I skimmed through all 44 pictures and not one of them included an often overlooked, yet significant figure in the Christmas Story. Many of them did include the Wise Men - who visited nearly 2 years after. Not one of them included John the Baptist.

As Luke tells the story of the birth of Jesus, he begins not with Mary, Joseph, and a trip to Bethlehem. He begins with the details of the birth of John the Baptist.

His story is not as well known as the events surrounding his cousin Jesus’ birth.

John’s father was a priest, descended from the sons of Aaron. He was chosen on a particular day to add incense to the altar of incense at the hour of prayer. Incense was to burn constantly inside the Holy Place to represent the constant prayers of God’s people.

As he went about his task, an angel named Gabriel appeared. Elizabeth and Zechariah, faithful and righteous in God’s sight were ‘well along in years’ and they both knew Elizabeth was unable to bear children.

The angel promised that in spite of the obstacles they indeed would conceive a child. Zechariah was stunned and actually challenged the angel’s pronouncement.

For this challenge Zechariah was supernaturally muted for the next months - until Elizabeth - the one unable to bear children, the one ‘well along in years. bears a child.

When the child was born and given a name he was called ‘John.’ At that moment Zechariah’s tongue was ‘set free’ and he offered a prayer of praise to God:

LUKE 1:68-79.

I’d encourage you to read the entire prayer tonight or tomorrow, but tonight I want to focus on Luke 1:78-79

Luke 1:78–79 HCSB

Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The angel had promised that this son, named John, would Luke 1:17

Luke 1:17 HCSB

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

John was to be the one announcing the arrival of the One whom God had been promising since the Garden of Eden.

Now that John has been born Zechariah speaks of what is yet to come -

a). God’s Mercy knows no limits

Every Jew knew their history. They knew that many times their ancestors had strayed from God. And they also knew that never once did God fail in His mercy. Numerous times God acted in decisive ways to provide victory for His people.

John’s birth is one more example of God’s unending mercy. Our failures - like Zechariah’s disbelief - will not thwart God’s purposes and promises.

Many times we all wonder - have I gone one step too far? Have I said or done something that is beyond God’s ability to demonstrate mercy? God’s mercy knows no limits except for the defiance of unbelief.

b). God’s Light will shine

In Genesis we read that out of the formless and empty darkness God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good....’ (Gen 1:3-4).

Time - as we understand and experience - has been governed by light and darkness. God called the light ‘Day’ and the darkness ‘Night’ (Gen 1:5).

From that instant on darkness is constantly being overwhelmed with light.

Most of us have experienced what is often called the ‘dark night of the soul.’ We have experienced those periods of time when we wondered if the darkness would ever lift. the darkness may have been prompted by the death of a loved one, a friend or acquaintance. Maybe the darkness started with the loss of a job, the loss of a friendship or romantic partner. Darkness just seems to invade some people’s lives and hearts.

Zechariah’s experience reminds us that God is still offering light - a light that will penetrate the darkest darkness.

Though John the Baptist doesn’t show up in nativity scenes, his part in the unfolding of God’s purpose is no less important than say the shepherds and angels.

His birth - supernaturally aided - reminds us that darkness is no match for our God.

He speaks light - not just at the beginning of all things, but whenever we need Him. The light He creates cannot be extinguished. No matter how dark our night appears, His light is more than enough.

May the light of Christ’s presence illuminate even your darkest dark!