The world’s true light

December 17, 2023 Author:Elder Liu Kerh Li

More than two thousand years ago, on a night in the wilderness of Bethlehem in Israel, a group of shepherds were watching over their flock as usual. The night was full of danger for these shepherds: their flock could easily be devoured by wild beasts in the wilderness. Therefore, they could not let their guard down. However, that night was not an ordinary night. Instead of hungry jackals, a large group of angels and heavenly hosts appeared to them to announce great news. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). When the angels appeared to the shepherds, their glory shone and pierced through the darkness. After the angels left, the earth was once again shrouded in darkness, but the shepherds’ hearts were already lit up with light. The angels told the shepherds that the Saviour for whom the Israelites had been waiting for generations had come to earth that night! This was the good news that ignited the light in the shepherds’ hearts and drove them to seek the newborn Saviour. Sure enough, as the angels had declared, the shepherds became the earliest witnesses of the Saviour’s birth.

The baby that the shepherds saw was the reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ. He was the Savior they had been waiting for. Why were the shepherds who were Jews, and other Jews waiting for the appearance of a Savior? Because the Jews of that time lived in darkness. Although they lived on the land that their ancestors had left them, they were not the masters of that land. The masters were the Romans. The Jews’ fall from grace was caused by their sin. But God had mercy on them and promised them a Saviour in many places in the Old Testament. He would save them from their dark lives. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:2-4).

The birth of Jesus Christ ignited the hope of the Jews and was a testament of the faithfulness of God. He is a God who fulfils His promises. But this promise is not just for the Jews. When the angels announced to the shepherds, they said that the birth of Jesus was news that concerned all people. This message is for all those who are lost in this sinful and dark world. Although we are not Jews, we are also beneficiaries of this promise. Jesus came to earth not only to illuminate the lives of the Jews, but also to be the true light of the world, to illuminate the lives of all people. Jesus himself 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). Walking in the dark is a terrifying thing. But in fact, each of us has been groping in the dark in our life, and we do not even know where this road of life will ultimately take us. Not only that, people’s sinful behavior, moral decay, the turbulent situation in the world, and various illnesses and afflictions only make the darkness of life more terrifying. The only light that can overcome this terrible darkness in the world is Jesus Christ. His birth brought true light to the world, driving away all darkness. We need Him to illuminate our lives.

translated by Davina Seet

Pastoral Letters