Arise, Shine

Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
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Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”… 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
 
WE shift briefly from Luke to remember Matthew also affirms Isaiah’s Messiah prophecies. The prophetic light is real, isn’t it? The star viewed in the eastern regions of the Middle East pointed to a light that had come into Judea. How did they know this light had special meaning? After all, one could say there are many bright stars and planets in the sky at different times in the heavens.
   The bible tells us there are many times God very plainly reveals his glory to mankind. This may have been a star born at creation to come into view at this particular time. Or we can surely believe God created a special light to literally fulfill Isaiah’s words. After all, with four words God positioned his presence into a formless void when God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3). How easily with one word Almighty God could have lighted a bright light in the Judean sky to urge the world to come to the King of Glory.
   Yes, the Bethlehem Star is a physical revelation of God’s plan to save the world. One day Jesus would teach us to be that kind of light to a formless world: Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”  Later, at the Feast of the Tabernacles Jesus  would declare he is the Glorious Light: “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12). Light is the Savior’s very essence.
   God’s prophets in Judea, his star in the sky, and his Son on the earth proclaimed it is time for mankind to rise. The Lord commands us to faithfully stand and actively be the evidence of the Lord’s glory. This is the power from heaven’s throne that rises upon you to join with the ascended Christ.
   Rejoice! God declares his salvation light is shining: Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).  
   See, pursue, know and worship the Light.
 
Prayer: Holy God, you set before us the Light of the World. May we daily worship him with joy and thanksgiving. Amen.