He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Light of the World
On the night of His birth a chorus of angels sang praises to God for this new life
Thirty-three years later He was reviled by angry crowds calling for His death
On the night of His birth He was hailed as the Prince of Peace, the heir to David’s royal throne
Thirty-three years later He was condemned as a false king and an enemy of the state
On the night of His birth shepherds came to visit Him and rejoiced that they had beheld the Lamb of God
Thirty-three years later He became the sacrificial lamb whose blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins
On the night of His birth He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and gently held by His mother
Thirty-three years later He was stripped of his clothing and scourged by Roman soldiers
On the night of His birth He was placed in a wooden manger
Thirty-three years later He was executed on a wooden cross
On the night of His birth He was born in a stable, most likely a cave, open to the cold night air, attended by gentle farm animals
Thirty-three years later He was buried in a tomb, most likely a cave, covered by a massive stone, attended by armed guards
On the night of His birth a new star appeared in the heavens, splitting the darkness, and the heavenly host rejoiced that Emmanuel, “God With Us” had come into the world
Thirty-three years and three days later, He arose, a New Light, and appeared to the world, banishing the darkness of sin and all humanity rejoiced that Jesus, the “Light of the World” is the Risen Lord whose light shines forevermore.
December 22, 2002