Four Responses to the LIGHT of Christmas

What is the darkest place you have been? 

When I think of darkness, I think of the first time I arrived in Liberia, driving to our lodging at night. In a country with little electricity, it is dark, dark, sprinkled with only a few sources of light coming from generators. Or I think about an experience I had in the Philippines when we traveled far from the paved road, hours into the sandy terrain. On our return trip, our vehicle, which, by the way, was a WWII weapons carrier, ran into some difficulties. When it became clear there wasn’t a quick fix, the pastors with us instructed us to start walking. We walked and walked and walked until the sun went down. Then we sat in the darkness.

The darkness that night was the darkest dark I have ever experienced. It was so dark that when the rescue vehicle finally approached, I began to see the headlights far in the distance shining as one light the size of a quarter. On a backdrop of complete darkness, even from a distance, a small amount of light shone bright and clear. That night in the Philippines helped me to visualize the important truth that light always penetrates the darkness. 

Keeping that illustration in mind, listen to how John 1:4-5 NASB describes Jesus, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Jesus is LIGHT in the darkness.

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, described Jesus’s upcoming birth this way, “Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

The world Jesus entered was spiritually dark. Consider Matthew’s account of the atrocity committed by Herod immediately following Jesus’s birth. In anger, this wicked man slaughtered all the male children under two years of age in the town of Bethlehem and all the surrounding area. Can you even imagine that tragedy? Wickedness and evil were very present. 

Like Jesus’s world, our world today is dark. We see the oppression, wars, evil, and tragedies. Like the women of Bethlehem in the wake of Herod’s slaughter, we cry out with great weeping and mourning. Yet, even in the darkness, we see the LIGHT from Heaven penetrate the darkness, providing hope, peace, and joy. 

Each December, as we celebrate Christmas, we have the opportunity to ponder this miracle. Luke 2 records how God’s Son was born of a virgin, wrapped in cloths, and placed in a manager; and then introduces us to several people—those who were first to encounter the LIGHT of the World in human form. Let’s take a minute to look at their response to Jesus’s coming and consider what we can learn from each of them.

1. The Shepherds’ Response: Praising God and Telling Everyone (Luke 2:8-20)

As soon as Luke describes how Mary laid Jesus in a manger, he takes us to a field where shepherds were keeping sheep. An angel appeared in shocking brightness, terrifying them and proclaiming a Savior had been born. The angel told them the sign of the Savior was that they would find a baby lying in a manger. Then, a multitude of angels cried out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)

I am honestly not sure how I would respond to this shocking and terrifying memo from heaven, but the shepherds moved quickly to seek out the sign the angel told them about. Once they saw this sign with their own eyes, they started telling everyone they could about Jesus. Luke concludes their story with this description, “The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it has been told them.” (Luke 2:20)

The shepherds believed and sought out Jesus. They were full of praise and worship and were not afraid to share the Good News. Like the shepherds, we can seek Jesus, praise Him, and share what we see with those around us. 

2. Mary’s Response: Pondering and Treasuring (Luke 2:18)

Tucked in the story about the shepherds, we find a verse about Mary’s response to Jesus’s birth. In Luke 1:19, Luke explains that Mary “treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” In all the activities of traveling for the census, finding a place to stay, giving birth to a baby, and caring for her newborn, Mary took time to ponder. She didn’t miss the wonder and beauty during the flurry of activity. This Christmas, will you make time to treasure Jesus? Will you soak in the wonder and awe? Will you see how God is working and moving? Will you notice His light in your life?

3. Simeon’s Response: Prophesying and Blessing (Luke 2:21-35)

Eight days after Jesus’s birth, his parents took him to the temple to carry out the requirements of God’s law. They met a man named Simeon. Simeon is described as “righteous and devout.” Like a few other faithful believers in Israel, he was watching for Messiah. But Simeon had a special promise from the Holy Spirit: before he died, Simeon would meet the Messiah. 

Luke tells us that when Jesus’s parents brought Him into the temple, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple at that exact time. Simeon lifted Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and proclaimed a prophecy over Jesus. This baby was the salvation of God, “prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:31-32) Furthermore, Jesus was appointed for both the rise and fall of many in Israel and would be a sword that would penetrate even His own parents’ souls. 

We learn from Simeon that the birth of Jesus is personalized. Simeon responded to encountering Jesus with a message and a challenge. He spoke specifically about how the birth of Jesus affected him and the nations and even how Jesus would impact Mary and Joseph. Like Simeon, we can process what encountering the LIGHT means for us and help others discover what it means for them.

4. Anna’s Response: Proclaiming His Presence and Giving Thanks (Luke 2:36-38)

Immediately after meeting Simeon, we meet Anna, a prophetess. Anna was married for a brief seven years, and after becoming a widow, she served at the temple day and night, fasting and praying. Like Simeon, when Anna sees Jesus for the first time, she has an immediate response. She gave thanks to God and “continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)

We don’t know exactly what Anna said to all the people waiting for the Messiah, but I would imagine it was something like, “He’s here! He’s here! He’s here!” Following Anna’s example, we can share the Good News with those who are looking for hope. The Light of the World is here! Jesus came! Jesus saves! Jesus changes everything!