“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

I feel this verse.

I know what darkness feels like: fear and hiding, uncertainty and insecurity. And I also know what light feels like when it breaks into the dark night. It is seeing and knowing. It is freedom and security. 

The Bible utilizes our tangible, visceral human experience of light and darkness to help us understand even deeper spiritual realities. In the same way that our physical world needs the light of the sun to see and grow and have life, light is used to represent knowledge and goodness and life. Similarly, our physical experience of darkness helps us understand its metaphorical use, representing ignorance and evil and death. 

I’ve often traced my finger along the vein of light and dark running through the entire Bible. It tells the salvation story of God in stark contrast and glorious radiance. And today, I want to do that with you—showing you just a smattering of verses that together tell the story of Jesus’s light breaking into our dark world and into our hearts. 

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:1-5, 9)

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)

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (Revelation 21:1-2, 22-24)

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

Want to hear more how the Bible uses light and darkness to communicate the gospel? You can listen to my teaching episode on the Dwell Differently Podcast to trace the light thematic through the book of Isaiah.