Light in Her Darkness
“I am the light of the world.”
John 9:5 (NIV)
Each Advent season Briarwood Presbyterian Church presents a gift to our surrounding communities with an annual live Walk-Through Nativity. Hundreds of Briarwood members come together to depict the birth and life of Jesus in 12 biblical scenes with narrated drama using live actors and animals (including a camel!). This week, December 11-13, visitors can come between 6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. each night and take an easy, 1/4-mile stroll that is wheelchair and stroller-friendly. Cookies and hot chocolate will also be served in the church Fellowship Hall following the walking tour. Last year over 10,000 people from all over our state attended the three-night event. Admission is free, but the message is priceless!
Several years ago, Bruce and I befriended a Hungarian family that we met through James Bruce’s Special Connections ministry. About six months into our friendship, we invited the parents and their two young sons to attend that year’s Walk-Through Nativity event. Both parents, Adrien and Robert, were fluent in English, but neither their eleven-year-old son with special needs nor their youngest son Oliver spoke any. Truthfully, we weren’t sure how much of the Nativity story any of them would understand, but the parents readily accepted and were grateful for our invitation.
About halfway through our walk-through tour, I held six-year-old Oliver’s hand and we approached the wise men and star scene. Somehow the light from the large Briarwood steeple and the Nativity star over the makeshift stable combined to give us extraordinary light in the clear dark night.
“Look, Oliver” I said, pointing to the light. “Do you see the star?”
I continued pointing and just repeating, “Star. Star.”
Suddenly Oliver said, “Star!” It was his very first English word. And just like the wise men, the sight of the star brought both Oliver and me great joy. That joy, however, was nothing compared to the joy that I experienced just a few months later when Oliver’s mom Adrien, with tears streaming down her face, looked up from her chicken salad lunch and my Bridge to Life diagram drawn on a paper napkin and said, “I now know why we had to come to the United States. I finally have some light in my darkness!"
Adrian received light in her darkness, not because she found an American friend, but because she found Jesus Christ-the Light of the World.
Peter Mead says that real darkness requires real hope. He writes, “Jesus came into this dark world and went to the darkest place: his death on the cross. He chose to enter the darkness of human sin and separation from God, in order to shatter the darkness. In its place Jesus offers the warming sunlight of God’s love to any who will accept that his life and death was intended for me. Jesus came into this world on a mission of hope, a mission to rescue you from the darkness.”
This season as we prepare for Christmas, remember Jesus, that child who was born, not just TO us, but FOR us. Then give thanks and rejoice with exceeding great joy. Because Jesus Christ was born, He brings light and life to all who put their faith and trust in him.
Hail the heave’n born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
”Glory to the newborn King.”
third verse, “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”
Charles Wesley lyrics