December 11th, 2025
by Dr. Ben Day | Senior Pastor
by Dr. Ben Day | Senior Pastor
READ
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:1-2
REFLECT
Do you remember yesterday when we talked about the times of uncertainty and the feeling of being overwhelmed? Well that feeling was still in Israel just two chapters later in the book of Isaiah. These verses remind us that Isaiah’s hearers were sitting in deep darkness—darkness brought on by fear, suffering, and their own wandering from God. But in the midst of the darkness, God gave a promise that was so certain that Isaiah spoke of it as if it had already happened. God promised that a light would shine in the deep darkness and it would turn the land of gloom into a land that was glorious.
Matthew tells us that when Jesus came He fulfilled this promise (Matt. 4:12-17). Similarly, John tells us that Jesus is the light of the world who shines in the darkness and the darkness can’t overcome it (John 1:4-5). Christmas means that light has pierced through the darkness. That all people, living in spiritual darkness, separated from God, on them a light has dawned. Now we as followers of Jesus can walk in the light.
But there is still a lot of darkness in our world. Creation is still broken and still awaits Jesus to return and make all things new. And hear what the Bible says about what will happen at Jesus’ second advent. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.” (Rev. 21:23-25) No more night. No more darkness at all.
Jesus’ first coming brought light into the darkness and His second coming will remove the darkness completely.
RESPOND
Take a few moments to listen to this song and thank God for Jesus, the Light of the World.
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:1-2
REFLECT
Do you remember yesterday when we talked about the times of uncertainty and the feeling of being overwhelmed? Well that feeling was still in Israel just two chapters later in the book of Isaiah. These verses remind us that Isaiah’s hearers were sitting in deep darkness—darkness brought on by fear, suffering, and their own wandering from God. But in the midst of the darkness, God gave a promise that was so certain that Isaiah spoke of it as if it had already happened. God promised that a light would shine in the deep darkness and it would turn the land of gloom into a land that was glorious.
Matthew tells us that when Jesus came He fulfilled this promise (Matt. 4:12-17). Similarly, John tells us that Jesus is the light of the world who shines in the darkness and the darkness can’t overcome it (John 1:4-5). Christmas means that light has pierced through the darkness. That all people, living in spiritual darkness, separated from God, on them a light has dawned. Now we as followers of Jesus can walk in the light.
But there is still a lot of darkness in our world. Creation is still broken and still awaits Jesus to return and make all things new. And hear what the Bible says about what will happen at Jesus’ second advent. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.” (Rev. 21:23-25) No more night. No more darkness at all.
Jesus’ first coming brought light into the darkness and His second coming will remove the darkness completely.
RESPOND
Take a few moments to listen to this song and thank God for Jesus, the Light of the World.
Dr. Ben Day | Senior Pastor
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