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We Have Seen A Great Light by Pastor Kevin Feder

By Anonymous

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

In the book of Isaiah we are given several prophecies about the birth of Jesus Christ. One of the greatest is in chapter 9 where we read about a child being born, a son given (Isaiah 9:6-7). Earlier in the chapter we are told that Jesus is a “great light.” It is important to understand that when the Bible talks about darkness it refers to “evil and ignorance.” In other words, the world is a dark place because of human sinfulness that causes great suffering and injustice. 

Darkness also refers to the ignorance of mankind, meaning everyone is unable to fix the problem of sin and cure it’s consequences, yet they will try under the delusion that they can. Take a look at the preceding verses have to say:

And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. -Isaiah 8:19-22

People will turn to the very best of humanity, like psychiatrists, scientists, politicians, in order to offer solutions...but there are none. In fact, their darkness only becomes thicker and their suffering more distressing. Enter the light in chapter 9. When the Bible talks about light it refers to a solution that God provides which also requires all humankind to turn from their false hopes and cling to Jesus fully. This is good news of dawning light but you must admit you are completely helpless to solve your sin problems in order to benefit from it by trusting in Jesus. 

Thankful for the birth of Christ, and with it, the dawning of the great light.

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