Light and Life

Light has always been here since the creation of the world (Genesis 1:3-4), and where there is an absence of light, darkness quickly follows it.

You could say the same is for us. When the first man was made, we were pure and without fault. Then a serpent tempts, a man and woman eat, and all is changed forever (Genesis 3). Now the light struggles to make itself known. The darkness always seems to be stronger.

Until the one moment that changed all of history: Light was born. The true Light of Heaven that was to bring light into the world was born (John 1:9-13). The Light, also known as Jesus, “…grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).” The Light had a mission. After three years in His ministry, the Light was put on trial for spreading darkness when that was the very thing in which He came to destroy (Matthew 26:57-68).

The people hated the Light so much that when asked what to do with him, they chanted “Crucify Him!” Not just once, but over and over again (Luke 23:13-25). The Light was whipped, punched, beaten, taunted, and made to bleed. He was led out to public humiliation with a crown of thorns on His brow. The thorns dug into His skull causing even more excruciating pain than what He was already experiencing.

The Light dragged Himself up the steep hill of agony and death. Here the Light was pierced and nailed to a cross (Isaiah 53 – Read this!). This is not where the agony ended, but only where it started. People passing by shouted remarks and taunts up at Him. Even a man suffering next to Him screamed, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

The Light’s only comforts were the sweet face of His earthly mother, faces of those who had been by His side for three years, and a man who asked to be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:40-43). Though the Light had faces of comfort, here on this cross He bore the weight of all sin. Every lie, every murder, every addiction was borne by the Light.

The worst of it all came at three in the afternoon when the Father left the Light. The Light (Jesus) not being able to bear it cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)”

As the hours and minutes passed, with every breath the Light fought to overcome the darkness. Finally, with one last and final breath, Jesus declared, “It is finished! (John 19:30)”

At those very words, the earth trembled and quaked, the dead rose, and the curtain was torn.

Then came a morning three days later, and what a blessed morning it was! The Light had not gone out, but had only been buried. The Light rose from the dark tomb and walked triumphantly into the glorious light of day. The Light had risen (Mark 16:6)! The Light had finished His mission of distinguishing the darkness forever! He lives, therefore the Light of life shall never go out.

Now the Light offers life to us all. No longer shall the darkness rule over us! We are free! The only question that remains is will we choose to walk in the freedom the Light offers freely to all, or will we choose to continue in darkness (1 Corinthians 2:12 & Ephesians 1:3-14))?

Alyssa Rasor (and your Heavenly Father)