Young People's Group

“A LIGHT HAS SHINED”

by Pastor Mitch
December 23, 2012

Finding Greater Significance At Christmas

Each Christmas should see us appreciating the Lord’s birth and its significance in a greater way. One of the ways is through seeing the Lord’s fulfilment of prophecies from the Old Testament. The text of Isaiah 9 records two very famous prophecies concerning the Lord’s coming to be with us and what it means for us. The first prophecy is about the Lord Jesus bringing us light during this Christmas time. We will deal with the second prophecy next week. As we dwell on the prophetic word, let’s find greater significance concerning the Lord Jesus seeking to be with us and to be our Saviour.

The Bringer Of Great Light To Our Hearts

Isaiah prophesied of a time when the people will be going through much distress. They will come under great oppression. Of course, it is now known that Isaiah was referring to Israel under the rule of the Roman empire. Israel would be walking in darkness, not knowing where she was going.

Young people, have you ever tried walking in darkness? It is indeed a petrifying experience as one often stumbles in the dark. The people of Israel were living constantly under the shadow of death because the Roman empire ruled with an iron hand. It was in such darkness that a great light entered the world.

1. The Lord Jesus As The Great Light That Shines In The Midst Of Great Darkness

“The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.” 
Isaiah 9:2

In the midst of this great darkness, the Lord Jesus would come and bring light to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali (Galilee). This great light shone in the great darkness that loomed in the hearts of His people and caused them to see hope and find strength in the midst of their oppression. They would find joy even in the midst of being under Roman rule. This prophecy was fulfilled and recorded in the text of Matthew 4:14. That light shone forth as the Lord Jesus began to preach about repentance and how the Kingdom of God was at hand. It is truly wonderful to know that we do not need to sit in darkness and to wallow in feelings of gloom. Christmas is about Jesus as our light. He brings light to the world and joy to our hearts.

2. The Lord Jesus As The Light That Dispels Darkness

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” 
John 1:4-5

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 
John 8:12

The Lord Jesus will be a great light that will dispel the darkness. The Lord is the giver of life and the life was the light of man. He is the one who has given to all men the general instinct to know what is good and evil. He brought to them the word of life and this gave light to people. Furthermore, if we follow Him in faith, we will not walk in darkness but have the special and spiritual light of life. We too can have tremendous meaning and purpose in life. Darkness does not have to reign in our life any longer. Let’s seek not to be gloomy during this Christmas period. Let’s follow Jesus as our light and rejoice in Him. Let’s shine forth as light to others.

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