Peace
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12, CSB).
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. One person could not see another, and for three days they did not move from where they were. Yet all the Israelites had light where they lived (Exodus 10:21-23).
Children are often afraid of the dark, as are many adults. The fear is not unreasonable; we live in a spiritually dark world and there are bogeymen waiting for us there. Most of the time, however, we can outwait the dark. Morning comes or we see some lovely illustration of good people caring for one another that gives us hope. Sometimes we see stars in the darkness that quell fears for a moment.
Before the great exodus of God’s people from enslavement in Egypt, God used the hand of Moses to call forth a heavy darkness, black as a subterranean cave and thick with humidity. For three days, no one moved for fear of harming themselves or others. There are books and studies about the power of darkness on the mind. Darkness deprives the mind of stimuli that regulate sleep patterns. Darkness changes neurotransmitter releases that may lead to stunting of a flight or fight response, even in grave danger. Darkness diminishes cognitive functioning and often leads to depression, anxiety, and insanity. Humans were not created to live in utter darkness.
While the Egyptians sat under the weight of darkness, the Israelites, just outside the palace’s domain, enjoyed their days and nights, with the sun, moon, and stars providing light as they always did. The people lived in light.
God continued to provide light to the Israelites after they crossed into the wilderness. Even in their disobedience and rebellion, God led them with a pillar of fire at night as they traveled. A cloud by day led the way and protected them from the heat of the desert sun. God’s light never left its place leading the way, guiding and protecting for forty years (Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 20:38).
When Jesus claimed to be the Light of the World, his hearers may have harkened back to the ninth plague and the pillar of fire piercing a palpable darkness. Knowing that the light that led their ancestors was God’s holy light meant that Jesus equated himself with God in that statement. Not only did he claim a superior light, but the power to forgive sin and imbue the forgiven person with the light of life. With the light of Jesus, fear of the dark is dispelled, bringing peace.
This second week of Advent is devoted to the Prince of Peace, whose entrance into this world was a dark animal shelter. Yet the shepherds were led by the light of the angels and the Magi by the light of the Star to worship this Light of the World. The same Prince of Peace calls to us today, offering eternal light in the darkness that dispels all fear to all who follow him.
Resources
“CSB Bible.” CSB Bible, Holman Bible Publishers, https://csbible.com/.
Clark, Sarah, and John Lewis. “Darkness and Depression: Investigating the Link Between Light Deprivation and Mental Health.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 203, 2016, pp. 148-156.
Jones, Mark, et al. “Circadian Rhythms and the Role of Darkness in Sleep Regulation.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, vol. 29, 2016, pp. 1-9.
Kumar, Ramesh, and Laura Fernandez. “Neurobiological Mechanisms of Darkness and Its Effect on Brain Function.” Frontiers in Neuroscience, vol. 11, no. 50, 2017, pp. 1-8.
Smith, John, and Emily Thompson. “The Psychological Effects of Darkness: Fear, Anxiety, and Relaxation.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 36, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1-10.
Tatera, Kelly. “Isolation in the Dark Drives Humans to Brink of Insanity, Studies Find: You Could Sleep for Days and Think It Was a Nap.” The Science Explorer, 19 Nov. 2015, https://www.thescienceexplorer.com/isolation-in-the-dark-drives-humans-to-brink-of-insanity-studies-find-41.
Defaulting to Grace 