Advent Reflection: Light from Genesis to Revelation

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From beginning to end the theme of light in scripture tells us of God's love and blessing, guidance and hope. In the darkness of winter the light of Christmas shines. What do these scriptures tell you about God? Jesus' birth? Us?

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ... And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:3-18)
 
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9)


The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1) 

The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2)

Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:12)


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)


"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." (Isaiah 60:1)


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." ... In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)


In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ... [John] came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:4-9 )


This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)


When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)


For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2Corinthians 4:6)


For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)


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. (1 Pete 2:9)


Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)


This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1John 1:5-7)


There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. (Revelation 22:5 )

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