Christmas Devotional: 7th December 2020
Advent is a time of waiting for God’s coming. This year we’ve spent much time waiting; often, it feels, waiting in darkness. As winter has drawn in, so has weariness and gloom. It was with this sense that I came to Psalm 97 recently, and verse 11 held my attention. ‘Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.’ (97:11 ESV)
When the darkness insatiably consumes the daylight hours earlier and earlier each day; when the brokenness of the world assails us in news stories, friends’ stories and in first-hand hurts; when we feel weary and tired and like hopeful rejoicing in God requires effort we don’t possess, this remains true: Light is sown.
The theme of light runs through the whole of Scripture’s redemptive story. On the first page, God speaks it into existence (Gen 1:1-5). On the last page there is a vision of the new creation: ‘And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb.’ (Rev 21:23)
In between these two pages is the incredible story of God’s redemptive action in the world. In its climactic movement, God-in-flesh, the Creator of light itself, dies in darkness. Then three days later, when the first rays of the morning begin to pierce the night as the nails had his hands, the women hurry through the streets of Jerusalem and dawn breaks over a tomb that lies empty. The Son has risen; new creation is inaugurated.
You have a place within this story. The mighty God of Ps 97:2-5 took on our human condition, our pain, our sin; he entered our darkness, our despair, our death. And then he rose! The one whom each page of the Old Testament rumbles with anticipation for had come. In a manger in Bethlehem, the light of the world is found in human form. He will be planted like a seed in death (Jn 12:24) and rise to bring salvation, setting in motion perfect restoration. Light is sown.
We locate ourselves in this story between the resurrection and the final consummation of new creation. Death has been defeated, but its end is yet to come. Darkness remains, but it will not overcome the light. All of creation rumbles with anticipation for the new creation, in which all things will be made new. We join with it in our eager waiting. (Rom 8:22-23)
Finding our place in this story, we can be certain of the end. Light is sown and when new creation dawns, ‘they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more.’ (Rev 22:3-4)
As Isaac Watts knew, this means Joy to the World, because perfect restoration began with Jesus arrival and it will be completed with his return:
‘He comes to makes his blessings flow,
Far as the curse is found.’
‘Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.’ Joy because the Lord reigns with righteousness, holiness, glory and justice (Ps 97) and one day his reign will come in full. It is a reign not established by violence and force but by suffering and obedience to death (Phil 2:6-8). Light and joy are sown for those who are in him.
As we reflect through Advent, let this be a time in which, weary though we may be, we locate ourselves in this story, praise God for Jesus’ arrival and long for his return to make all things new. Even in darkness we may rejoice because light is sown and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:5)