For the One Struggling to Feel the Cheer this Christmas
What do we mean when we say "Jesus is the Light of the World?"
Our culture loads the Christmas holiday with merry expectations. The season is filled with fun events, songs, and traditions to make the month of December cheery and bright.
But it's not always easy to feel merry, especially in a world as dark as ours.
Isaiah 9 speaks directly into that tension. The people of Judah were living in dark times. Instead of trusting God to protect them, King Ahaz placed his hope in an alliance with Assyria—an alliance that led the people into oppression and exile. It’s into this darkness that God sends Isaiah with a message of hope:
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light... For to us a child is born...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. " (Isaiah 9:2-7a)
The people assumed this promise meant a political savior who would defeat their enemies. What they didn’t see was that this prophecy pointed to Jesus Christ—not a temporary rescuer, but the true Light who would deal with the root of their darkness: their sin.
Sin is living apart from God—rejecting His authority, provision, and wisdom, and choosing our own way. That’s exactly what King Ahaz and the people of Judah did when they struck the alliance with the nation of Assyria. God had told them to “Be careful. Be calm. Don’t be afraid,” but they didn’t listen (Isaiah 7:4). And the result of their mistrust in the Lord was that they became enslaved.
Sin might provide temporary relief or comfort, but it always results in captivity. Like Judah became bound to the Assyrians, we become imprisoned by the natural consequences of our sinful choices.
But Jesus came to free us from that bondage. By living a sinless life, dying in our place, and rising again, He made peace with God possible and showed us how to walk in that peace every day. This is why He later echoed Isaiah’s promise when 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)
Jesus shines light on our darkness—not to condemn us, but to heal us. His truth reveals what’s broken and then guides us toward freedom. When we align our lives with His Word, we begin to see ourselves and the world the way God sees them.
So, if you’re struggling to feel the cheer of Christmas this season, Advent is for you.
Like the Messiah as a baby in a manger, the hope and peace God offers doesn’t always look the way we expect. We often want God to remove our problems or our heaviness. Instead, He gives us something deeper: truth that lights up our darkness and either leads us out of or through it.
Consider where you need His light to shine in this season. Where do you need to apply His truth to your life?
This post is inspired by message two of our 2025 Advent sermon series, “Jesus: The Long Awaited Promise,” given by Dr. Jody Ray.