Dear friends, … This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might have life through him (1 Jn 4:7,9). Amen.
The first thought behind the word “polar” is probably something that is extremely cold. You perhaps cringe when you hear about a “polar vortex” (even though you might not be able to give a scientific definition of what it is).
But it can also carry the connotation of equal opposites. It is somewhat in the names, but take for example that polar can refer to the North Pole and the South Pole. They are at entirely different ends of the globe. (By the way, from my understanding, they are both cold.) So we often use the expression “polar opposites.”
Light and darkness are case in point of polar opposites.
Literally—Where there is light, even the smallest amount, there is no darkness. Think of a star in the night sky. The distinction is clear. And also when one spreads, the other retreats. You can envision a sunrise or a sunset—either getting brighter or dimmer.
Figuratively—Light signifies good like wisdom and faith, a connection with God, and dark symbolizes evil like ignorance and unbelief, a separation from him. One is all about abundant joy; the other is about absolute misery. When one increases, the other decreases.
The prophet Isaiah illustrates the sharp contrast by beginning: “The people walking in darkness” (Is 9:2). Judah was a dark place. Not because the sun didn’t shine like at certain times in the northern or southern regions of the earth. But because there was sin. It was evidenced in their activities—idolatry and immorality. That is nothing new as it had been going on in people’s attitudes and actions since Adam and Eve believed the lie of the devil and fell into sin, ruining their perfect relationship with a perfect God.
The world we live in is dark. That is not a shocking statement or a hard sell, is it? Even around Christmas time, there are things like violence and hatred—both close to us and around us. That goes on the other 11 months of the year as we make our way from day to day (cf. Ps 1:1). Darkness when it comes to our feelings on the inside and darkness when it comes to our dealings on the outside. We include ourselves rather than just indict others—as if we don’t ever do anything wrong as we point out the darkness in others without pointing to it in ourselves.
Add to that: “on those living in the land of the shadow of death” (Is 9:2). Death comes as an ugly and unfortunate result of sin (Ro 5:12). That deep darkness hangs over our heads. No wonder people are afraid of the dark or to be in the dark.
The only thing that dispels darkness is the very opposite—a polar opposite. And that is light. That was the case on Day 1 of creation. God commanded as he created it: “Let there be light” (Ge 1:3). And that shattered the obscurity. When we flip a light switch, it is a pale comparison what the Lord brought about.
But ultimately we can’t produce light. It is a gift of God—from him and to us. And so it is with his gift of the Light—Jesus. Through Isaiah, the Lord promised to send a great Light to pierce the darkness of sin and death.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:2). There is a complete reversal.
“On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Is 9:2). The light is gleaming.
It is interesting to note that the Lord speaks in the past tense, even though the fulfillment of that would not be for 700+ years. But God is different from us. When he makes a guarantee, it is as good as done. It is almost as if Isaiah heads to the future and describes the event as though it has already happened. And it comes in a strange way—in the form of an infant. It is not a program, but a person. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Is 9:6).
We look back tonight to celebrate that birth. There is the Light of life in the darkness of sin. It wasn’t that a glow came from the feedbox and it lit up the cattle shed like a lamp in the living room. Or even a dazzling halo over the baby’s head. But God accomplished what he had assured for so many years. Luke states it so simply in his Gospel: “And she [that is, Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger” (Lk 2:7). What happened in private became public. The angels announced it assuredly to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10,11).
Jesus is the One who has rescued us from the guilt of sin and removed the curse of death. There is light in the darkness—holiness instead of unholiness. As Jesus once commented: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). Note the close connection—where there is light there is life, eternal life. We no longer stagger in darkness because we strut in the light. As John put it before: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another [we share in this together—that makes us want to be together], and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7). The little One whom Mary held would one day be hung on a cross. In the horrible darkness of Good Friday, he would cleanse us from our sin. And then three days later, he would come back to life in the early light of Easter Sunday. His life gives us life.
It doesn’t matter if you are on the North Pole or South, light and darkness are polar opposites—not just various shades of grey. We can appreciate the difference too—as a fact and as a metaphor. There is light in the darkness. Jesus is born. And he scatters the darkness of sin and supplies the light of salvation. And that light is ours. Merry Christmas Eve.
We read from Isaiah 9:2,6:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.
Peace to you (3 Jn 14). Amen.
December 24, 2018
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