Today Daily Devotional

“Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

— John 12:36

By this point in John’s gospel, Jesus has declared a couple of times that he is the light of the world. This image is intended to draw us into the creation story, as if to exclaim: “God is making a new creation in Jesus!” This is incredibly good news! God the Father is responding to the long history of human sin and its legacy of darkness with the light of his own Son.

We don’t often focus on this new-creation side of the story at Christmastime. We usually hear about the miraculous events that led to Jesus’ birth, that Jesus is “God with us,” and how the angels and shepherds played their parts in announcing Jesus’ arrival (Matthew 1; Luke 2). But the new-creation side is important too. John’s attention to Jesus as the light in our midst is re-creational language. God is doing something new!

In the passage we are focusing on today, we hear Jesus calling for a decision. Will we believe in him, trusting that he really is God’s light signaling the start of a new creation? Will we become children of that new creation—both as recipients of God’s grace and as family representatives of God’s new creation?

We are invited to remember and celebrate Jesus’ birth as people who are joyfully caught up in the arrival of God’s new creation.

God, thank you for starting a new creation in Jesus. As we remember Jesus’ birth, grow in us a joyful faith and desire to live as your children. Amen.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.”

— John 9:4

As we draw closer to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, it’s important to remember why Jesus came. Several times in the book of John, Jesus talks about doing the will of God, who sent him. In today’s passage Jesus tells his disciples, “We must do the works of him who sent me.” Though he doesn’t say here what those works are, Jesus shows through his actions who he is and why he came.

Jesus gives sight to a man who was born blind. When we read further in John 9, we find that this healing caused quite a stir among the crowds, the Pharisees, and even the man’s parents. People born blind don’t get their sight back—at least not until Jesus comes along.

As he sets the stage for this healing, Jesus declares, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.” In this episode Jesus is making a bold claim and showing that he is God’s chosen servant.

As Isaiah 42:7 proclaimed, God’s servant would “open eyes that are blind” (see also Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19). God’s will for Jesus was to usher in the renewing kingdom of God. God’s kingdom brings healing and includes all whom he calls to believe in him—from all backgrounds. The healing and inclusion of all kinds of people provide the joyful evidence that Jesus truly is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

God, overcome our blindness to the nature of your kingdom. Help us see that Jesus is your chosen servant, through whom you are ushering in your kingdom. Amen.

God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts. . . .

— 2 Corinthians 4:6

Today’s Bible passage calls us back to the creation story, reminding us that the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the same God who is working in us today. And God’s work here is about creating the light of faith within our hearts.

The text tells us that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” They are unable to recognize Jesus Christ for who he really is. They might see him as an interesting historical figure or someone who lived a moral life worth imitating. Some might say that Jesus challenged political and religious structures to the point that people in power had him killed. While these things may be true, they are merely shadows in comparison to the light of who Jesus really is.

By the light of God’s creative mercy, we see that Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, is “the image of God” in human form. In Jesus, the light of God’s glory has entered our world, living, dying, and rising among us so that we might see the full extent of God’s love. In joyful response to this merciful work in our hearts, we join the apostles in renouncing “secret and shameful ways” in order that we might proclaim Christ as the light of the world.

God, we confess that we need your light to shine in the darkness of our hearts. By your mercy, we renounce our sinful ways so that the joy of your love may overflow through us. Amen.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

— John 8:12

The text in our reading for today is centrally focused on Jesus’ identity. He declares, “I am the light of the world . . .” leaning into God’s covenant name “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is making the claim that he is God, because that’s who he is.

But there are also implications here for all who follow him. Jesus asserts that anyone who follows him “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we’re honest with ourselves, we admit there are many times when we stumble in our faith. Sometimes we make deliberate choices to sin. At other times we fail to do the good that we could have done. At times, we still choose darkness. So, what do we do with Jesus’ words that his followers “will never walk in darkness”?

Until this point, the Israelites were taught to follow God’s commands and to offer certain sacrifices in order to be right with God. But now Jesus reorients their righteousness to himself. The good news Jesus proclaims is that instead of trying (and always failing) to be righteous before God, people can receive the light of Jesus’ perfect life that he extends to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). By God’s grace, all who follow Jesus have the light of life not because of what they do, but because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. Hallelujah!

Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness and your sacrifice on our behalf. We praise you that the light of your life makes us right with God! Amen.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

— Matthew 4:17

Our Scripture reading today includes a quote from Isaiah that we considered earlier: God’s light will dawn on the people who live in darkness, ushering them into new life in God’s kingdom (Dec. 12). That promise is fulfilled in Jesus and is cause for great joy!

The context of this passage gives us even more reason for joy. Jesus leaned into Isaiah’s prophecy in response to the news of John the Baptist being jailed, showing that John’s ministry of preparing the way for Jesus was now complete. Jesus also moved to a different area to make clear that he was and is the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promises. He is God’s light of salvation living among us!

Further, Jesus put the first light of dawn from Isaiah into action by preaching that everyone should repent because “the kingdom of God has come near.” No longer is God’s promised salvation off in a distant future. God’s kingdom has come near! After centuries of waiting, God’s light is breaking into the darkness and calling all people into the freedom of God’s kingdom.

As we remember and celebrate Jesus’ birth, that joyful first light of dawn comes to us as well: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”! Jesus continues to invite us into freedom from the sin and darkness that has overshadowed us.

Jesus, we hear your invitation to repent. Help us to turn away from our sins and from the darkness in order to live in the light of your salvation. Amen.

“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High . . . because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.”

— Luke 1:76-78

In the first chapter of Luke many important things can attract our attention: Gabriel’s visits to Zechariah and then to Mary; Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and her song of justice; even the naming of John and the end of Zechariah’s nine-month silence. All of these stories proclaim loudly: God’s light is coming into the world!

We see this in Zechariah’s song as well. Zechariah joyfully prophesies that his son, John, will be God’s messenger, preparing the way for God’s people. John will call people to repentance and forgiveness as God keeps his promises to free his people from their sins so that they might follow God in righteousness. Several other images that we’ve been considering this month are brought together in the final lines of Zechariah’s song: the light of a rising sun from heaven, a light shining on people living in darkness and even in death’s shadow, and God’s light guiding them on their way. God is declaring that he is about to fulfill his promises!

In a sense, then, the Holy Spirit is bringing together all sorts of little lights of God’s grace that have been shared in the Old Testament. Gathered here, their impact is multiplied: God’s salvation through his chosen servant is coming! And we are invited to rejoice with Zechariah, whose joy overflows at seeing this day!

Holy Spirit, fill us as you did Zechariah, that we too may rejoice in seeing how your promises are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

— Isaiah 60:3

Often we tend to fear what we do not understand—especially when we encounter people who are different from us. The same was true in ancient Israel. Isaiah proclaimed that God’s chosen servant would bring God’s blessings to people of all nations. But for the people of Israel, who had been enslaved by Egypt and overrun by Assyria and Babylon, the idea of the nations coming to them carried some fear and trembling.

Yet God reassured Israel that his redemptive work across the world would lead to a different relationship between his people and those of other nations. Instead of war and violence, the nations would come seeking the light of God’s presence. Instead of demanding tribute, the nations would bring their wealth in service to God. Instead of responding in fear, God’s people would rejoice at the sight of the nations coming into God’s light.

As we remember Jesus’ birth, we are still waiting for this promised future. Nations are still at war. Racism, classism, and all sorts of other -isms feed our fears about people who are different from us, including within the church. So we add our voices to the prayers of God’s people throughout the centuries: that in Jesus Christ, God will bring about this promised day of peace that we cannot yet imagine.

God, help us to see that you want all the nations to come to you. Remove our fears, that we may embrace the global diversity of your coming kingdom in Jesus Christ. Amen.

“I, the Lord, have called you . . . to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

— Isaiah 42:6-7

Sometimes we use the term “blinding light” to say that a light is so bright that if you look directly at it, you could damage your eyesight. Here the Bible talks about the opposite effect—when light heals. We read that God’s servant will give sight to people who are blind.

We begin to see here that God’s light—shining through his chosen servant—heals, frees, and releases people who were thought to be beyond help and hope. God even declares that his light is for the Gentiles—people whom Israel thought were outside of God’s care and concern. Through this prophetic word, God seeks to “unblind” the social and spiritual imagination of his people.

By extending the benefits of God’s redemptive work far beyond the borders of Israel’s imagination, God’s faithful servant disrupts Israel’s comfortable, self-focused peace. Instead, God invites them to see that his mission is intended to welcome all people into his peace.

As we move closer to Christmas, we too are invited into this “unblinding light” of God’s chosen servant, Jesus. Do we see God’s redemptive work as being just for us and for people like us? Or will we come to recognize that God’s love in Jesus Christ is intended to give light and peace to people we never imagined would be included in God’s family?

Remove our blindness, Lord, that we may delight in seeing how wide and merciful your love is in Jesus Christ. Amen.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

— Isaiah 9:2

God provides an immediate follow-up to the passage we reflected on yesterday, about choosing to live in “utter darkness.” Because of God’s mercy, the gloom and hopelessness of consulting the dead will not be the final word on their lives. Instead “a light has dawned” on them.

Notice the unfolding impact of this “great light.” God’s people will rejoice in ways that need all kinds of metaphors to describe. Their oppressors will lose their power. The very instruments of war used to control them will be destroyed. All of these signs point to freedom and new life that the people could not achieve on their own. The joyful hope of God’s deliverance flows through this prophetic word.

Further, God promises to do all of this through the birth of a child, whose rule will bring never-ending peace. Where death once tainted everything they saw, the people who are trapped in darkness will see God’s flourishing kingdom coming into view. To make this certain, God declares, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

During Advent we remember how God started this rule of peace through the birth of Jesus Christ. And we look forward to the day when God will bring us into the fullness of this vision.

God, thank you for bringing your kingdom of peace through Jesus Christ. In your continued mercy, please shine your great light on all who live in darkness, apart from you. Amen.

If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

— Isaiah 8:20

God’s people did not always walk in God’s way. At times, the leaders of God’s people even consulted with mediums (1 Samuel 28:3-25). Here Isaiah notes the consequences of trying to consult the dead to find spiritual direction that only God can provide: “They will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom. . . .”

God’s words through Isaiah are clear: there is no peace for someone who seeks life among the dead. Isaiah declares that the contrast between seeking God and seeking the dead is as different as day and night. Rather poetically, the prophet writes, “They have no light of dawn.” In other words, seeking guidance from the dead is like walking into a never-ending night. You can’t find the light of day by turning to the night.

The allure of such things is that they promise to provide quick access to the spiritual realm and to spiritual power. But that runs contrary to God’s Word in the biblical story we remember during Advent. For instead of demanding that we find magical ways to access God, God has taken the initiative to seek us out. God came to us in Jesus Christ, so that through him we might have unhindered access to God himself.

Lord, we confess that we do not turn to you when we should. We seek spiritual comfort, wisdom, and direction outside of you. Thank you for giving us direct access to you through Jesus, your Son. Amen.