Isaiah 9:2-3 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.”
Sight is perhaps the most fundamental sense. A loss of hearing impacts a persons life terribly, but probably not as significantly as a loss of sight. The ability to see, even by the slightest light, transforms our ability to accomplish things; to enjoy things; to understand things.
Deep darkness robs us of that sense. It robs us of the means to do, enjoy and appreciate. People who have had ground breaking surgery to restore their sight, have a common response the first time they can see; they express deep seated joy.
Isaiah was given a prophecy from God about a light that would dawn in the future. A light that would banish darkness for ever; a light that would make a whole nation rejoice like they had just had their sight restored for the very first time!
That Light was Jesus, and it’s dawning was his birth. Christmas represents sight for people who have spent their lives blinded by sin, for that’s what sin does – it plunges the soul into darkness.
When Jesus illumes in a person’s heart, they spiritually see for the first time, and that experience is utterly glorious! The joy of seeing for the first time, is the ability to know God personally; to desire to please him; to begin to appreciate his endless qualities and to love him deeply.
The nation Isaiah speaks of, are the people Jesus came to rescue from the power of sin and set free by dawning in their hearts. That’s the light we all need this christmas, and when we see him – when he returns in his glory – then, we are told, we will be like him!