The Light of Christ

“In the beginning…” To introduce his gospel, the Apostle John makes sure to tell us that what has happened in the birth of Jesus is of a significance on par with the birth of the cosmos itself. As Genesis speaks of the first creation, John says, the incarnation marks the beginning of the new creation; God’s work of rescue and redemption, not from the darkness and chaos of pre-creation, this time, but from the darkness and chaos and death that now holds sway because of humanity’s rebellion, soul-sickness and sin.

So much of our experience of this world is still marked by darkness, which can tempt us to despair. But in the midst of this real darkness stands Jesus, the burning fire of God’s own life-light, and He intends to set US alight, too; that we might stand as beacons of the hope of his new creation story, burning in the midst of the “wild and waste” of our broken world.

The LORD God speaks into history in the language which is Jesus. Life, and light, and love, wrapped up and given to us in the flesh and blood of Jesus. Un-dimmable, un-quenchable, un-failing love. Invitation, into the eternal joy of sharing in Himself. This love of God even now calls out to us in Christ, that we might be reconciled, restored, redeemed, set free from the way of sin and rebellion and death.

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

If we want to know what God is like, if we want to know what God cares about, if we want to know how this God thinks and feels about us, then we look to Jesus. The Lord invites us: Examine Jesus. Encounter Jesus. Get to know his voice, and hear what it is he is speaking into existence in the world. Witness how he lives his life, how he spends his life, and why he says he does it. Because, it is in coming to know and love and stand in absolute, joyous awe of this one, Jesus, that we in fact come to know God!

Light, and Life, and Love. Hearts made new, unto a world made new, in the embodying of God given to us and victorious for us, in Christ. This is the Word of the Lord, in Jesus. This is how, and this is why he comes to us. The question is, how will we respond?

Let us seek him, and receive him, today! In this way - the light of Christ taking hold of us, as we take hold of him - we will see his light will break forth in our day, for the salvation and blessing of a new generation.

Rev. Chris Bannon
Area Coordinator North, Revive New England