16.e. “To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

John 8:12  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Isaiah 9:2     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 42:6-7    “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Luke 1:78-79     because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high  to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Isaiah 60:1-3     Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Acts 13:47     For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Job 33:28     He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’

We have all experienced physical darkness. We search for light when the lights go out during a storm when our car is broken down along the highway at night, or when we wake to a sudden sound in the middle of night.  When we are used to seeing things in the light, darkness becomes a burden without it.  Sometimes it is more than a burden of being out of light, it is and can be frightening.  Light takes away the darkness and allows us to see all of the obstacles we would not have seen in darkness.

Jesus Christ is the “Light of the world”.  His light shines in the darkness and exposes all that is unrighteous, unholy, and apart from God.  His light shines bright on the darkest soul, exposing sin and the need for salvation, redemption, repentance, and forgiveness.  There are two reactions to the light of Jesus Christ.  One can run from it and hide in the dark shadows of sin, or one can run to it and allow it to flood over them.  The world is in darkness and there are those who choose darkness over light.  They will even create their own fake light to guide their path.  They convince themselves that this false light is the one and only true light of the world.  They run and hide from the light of Jesus Christ that shines brighter. How many times do we run from the light of Jesus Christ?  How many times is our sin exposed in the light of His Word and we quickly close our eyes to it, choosing for that sin to not be exposed? God’s Word is light to our soul.  Jesus Christ is the light of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness.   The Holy Spirit is the light to guide us on the path to eternity in heaven.  Living any moment of the day without seeking and desiring the light of the Holy Trinity is living in darkness.