Today we light the final candle of Advent. This candle represents light. Luke 1:76–79 records Zechariah praising God at the birth of his son John, “And you my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Dark remains dark until the light shines. Darkness makes no effort to become a lighter shade by its own merit. A dark heart needs a light to expose it to the truth. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).  

Jesus came from heaven and “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). 1 John 1:5 explains that “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” Contrast that with people living and walking in darkness. We are lost in the dark bondage of our sins until “the tender mercy of our God” (Luke 1:78) gave us knowledge of salvation. God “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13–14).

Jesus’ birth lit up the sky as “an angel of the Lord appeared to [the shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone around them (Luke 2:9). The angel declared that the Messiah had been born. After the shepherds had seen Jesus, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). Let us with joyful hearts glorify God—for his light has shone in our darkness! “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9–10).

Dear God, we have nothing to bring but confession of our sins, trusting you are faithful to forgive. We know Jesus came as the Light of the World to take away our sins. Now, we walk in newness of life and fellowship with you and each other. As we celebrate this holiday season, we rejoice because we have been set free to bring you glory. Thank you for your grace and faithfulness that is new every morning and endures forever. Amen.