Light of the World: A Poem

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

This poem is about light - how Jesus is the best and brightest Light, and how all other lights pale in comparison. Still, we are sometimes lured away from His light, lurking in the darkness and desiring other forms of “light”.

May the glorious Light of Jesus captivate our hearts, minds and attention this Christmas season. May He light up every part of our lives, that we might shine His beauty among all peoples on earth. I’ll be sending out a few short reflections on Jesus as the Light in the coming weeks during this Advent season. I pray they bless you and point you to the “Bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16), the True reason for celebration and the Hope of the world.

We’re all chasing light -

A flicker, a flame.

Blue light and limelight -

Meaning is our aim.

And we’re putting up Christmas lights

Lighting the tree,

Thinking that “light”

is about what we see.

But there is a Light

Beyond what eyes perceive.

He’s glorious and brilliant -

We can “see” when we believe

That to people in darkness

He was born to bring Light.

A star showing the way,

Otherworldly and bright.

And the angels lit the skies,

Catching shepherds by surprise,

They couldn’t help but cower

And cover their eyes.

This Light, full of splendor,

Was like nothing they’d seen.

The glory of heaven

Left them down on their knees.

All who heard were amazed -

No one could describe

This mystery in Bethlehem

But they felt so alive.

Hearts were burning, people worshiping,

“Messiah is here!”

They were struck by the notion

That God could be so near.

This Light of the world

In the darkness of night

Brought Hope to all people

With His unmatched pure light.

And in this world full of darkness

It’s hard to remember

That Jesus, our Light,

Reigns both now and forever.

And He’s not just “out there” -

His Light burns within.

He’s in us and with us

His glow never grows dim.

In fact, He’ll become brighter

To us as we grow

As we see Him and seek Him

Then we’ll come to know

That these lights we’re all chasing,

These flickers and flames,

Will all be extinguished

Except this one Name

Jesus, He’s the Light!

He’s the Hope of the world -

Worth all your attention,

More precious than pearls.

And one day at the end

We’ll come face to face

With the splendor of Jesus

And He’ll light all our days.

So turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look only at Him,

When you gaze on His glory

All else will grow dim.