The Sunrise from on High

There is something about watching the sun rise that speaks peace to my soul… something about the day coming to life and dispelling the darkness.  It is not often enough that I witness the arrival of a new dawn.  But when I do stop to relax and see, in those moments God speaks.

This fall I found myself standing in the cool mountain air on the deck of a weekend retreat house.  As I looked out, the entire landscape was dark, except for a small bright pink circle coming up over the horizon.  Slowly that circle grew larger and brighter, first a long strand of pink, then daylight breaking the darkness.  Before long the entire sky was fill with light, the world alive with color, and not even a hint of night remained.

Standing there one word came to mind.  Hope.  Every night is swallowed up in light.  Even the blackest and darkest night turns to day. That day, I needed that reminder.  In fact, many days I need that reminder, as I am sure you do.  It is easy to let the darkness overcome.  We allow the night and its heaviness to define us and our future.  When we cannot see the next day and we grow weary and depressed.

Only months before Jesus was born Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, speaks a prophecy over his son and the coming Messiah.  Jesus was born in a time of both spiritual and national oppression and darkness for the nation of Israel.  God had not spoken verbally to His people for 400 years.  It is on this backdrop of silence, Zacharias speaks the message of hope, “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)

What a beautiful description of Jesus.  He is the Sunrise from on high.  Just like the sunrise I  witness in the sky, Jesus is the Sunrise of God.  He comes on the backdrop of the darkest night.  Despite our pain, our questions, and our sorrows, He brings the light of day.  He swallows up our pain in life and victory.  There is no night too dark for His light to shine.  And we know this is true because Jesus gave His life so they we can have life.  He died in order to conquer death.  Even when he was laid in the tomb, three days later, He rose.  His resurrection is our assurance.  So, keep your eyes up.  Hope is on the horizon.

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“The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.'”

Lamentations 3:22-24 NASB

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your string? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

I Corinthians 15:55-58