“CHRIST - OUR OVERCOMING LIGHT”

John 1:4-5

Christ is not only the church’s light, He is our overcoming light. John writes of Him:

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Greek word for comprehend has two nuances of meaning. It can mean under-stand. The darkness did not understand the Light. This is biblical. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” I Corinthians 2:14.

The larger meaning, I believe, is “overpower.” The darkness did not overpower the Light. Attempts were made from the get-go to extinguish the Light - to put it out. All through the Old Testament Satan and his kingdom of darkness tried to eliminate the messianic seed but to no avail. Then when Jesus was born, King Herod put out a contract on him. “Kill all the male children two years and under,” he decreed. Sooner or later his henchmen would come to the family of Mary and Joseph. But God, in His providence, transferred His Son to Egypt.

All through His growing up years, God continued to preserve His Son. Several attempts were made on His life - all being failures. The darkness could not put out the Light. The final attempt on earth was the cross. Satan instigated all the persecution against the Light until finally he got Him on the cross. His intent was to eliminate Jesus forever. Little did he know that in doing this, he was fulfilling God’s will (cf Hebrews 10:5-10).

When they placed Jesus in the tomb, the Romans sealed it and placed guards around it to prevent the body from being disturbed. But on Easter morning the carefully protected body came out of the tomb. Once again darkness had failed and Light had prevailed.

What about today? Darkness is everywhere - spiritual darkness I mean. Jesus has conquered again. Millions of Christians are containers of the powerful light whether we realize it or not. The overcoming light of Jesus Christ is in the midst of the spiritual darkness this Christmas season - on your block, in your home, on your job. Jesus, the Light of the world is still overcoming darkness. Every witness you give is another blow against darkness. (One of the reasons I love the paintings of Thomas Kinkade, known as the painter of light, is that he emphasizes light in his paintings.)

So Christians, let’s allow the overcoming light of Jesus to permeate our sphere of influence this Christmas. God bless.

Love to you all.