Be Light

“...the people who sit in darkness ​​have seen a great light...” Matthew 4:16

These words from the Gospel of Matthew are directly taken from Isaiah 9:2 just as many verses in the Old Testament points to the promised Messiah, the Suffering Servant, the Son of David. The writings in the Old Testament paves the way, lays the foundation for what happens in the New, and the New is only completely understood in the light of characters, events, covenants and promises in the old books. 

Jesus explained to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus what must be the greatest exegesis never written: “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures! (Luke 24:25-26)

Jesus is called the Dayspring. Dayspring is translated from "shachar" which means dawn, morning light, aurora, the rising of the sun. Jesus is appropriately called the Dayspring because He is the Word. He brought the light of the Gospel into the world.

Are we like Jesus, a disperser of gloom and darkness? Or do we spread pessimism, hopelessness and despair? Everywhere we go there are disheartened, depressed, hurting, angry people. We do not have to go far. Sometimes they are in our own homes, offices, schools or neighborhoods. We can even find them on Facebook or Twitter, bullying others, making sarcastic or despairing comments or saying nothing at all. There are many people who ache for hope. We need to say to them, "Take courage! Nothing is impossible with God!" That is the message that is badly needed in this dysfunctional world. That with Jesus, there is always a new day dawning, a brand new beginning, a fresh start. We should take hold of that and help others who need to believe it as well. 

Someone once said that the ones with the most hope shall be the most influential. With Jesus, we can shine on those who sit in darkness, and guide people into the way of peaceful hearts and minds.