The Light of the World Subscribe to the Devotional

This week's focus: Light of the world

“Nothing good happens after midnight” is a warning we’ve all heard or said. One of the reasons this admonition is proper is because the dark of night is usually the preferred time for people to engage in activities that are unlawful or immoral.

In scripture, we see an example of this when Jesus was arrested by an angry mob, not in the daytime but late at night. His betrayer, Judas, arrived with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. They chose this late hour to avoid protests from all those who knew Jesus was innocent and undeserving of such treatment. Their corrupt actions were veiled under the cover of darkness.

Even Jesus questioned them on this: “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me…” (Matthew‬ ‭26:55-56‬)

If the intentions of the crowd were honorable, they wouldn’t have tried to hide their deeds. What they didn’t understand is that nothing is ever hidden from God:

“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Luke 12:2-3)

Spiritual Darkness

The angry crowd avoided the light of day to hide their corrupt actions, but the source of their rebellion was spiritual. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:20)

The Mercy of Jesus

In sacrificial love, Jesus carried out what He came to do; He willingly took the sins of all humanity upon Himself to eternally save all those who would come to the Light and put their trust in Him.

The darkness of Friday was short-lived when three days later, Jesus triumphantly rose from the grave.

Scripture tells us that the first ones to witness this miracle arrived “very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.” (Mark 16:2)

The overwhelming sorrow His followers felt was turned to overwhelming joy when they realized the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. Jesus, the Light of the world, victoriously conquered Satan, sin, and death.

The Son has risen indeed!