Amidst the heaviness and darkness of Isaiah’s prophecies of judgment, we see a bright light—a familiar Messianic prophecy of great hope! Isaiah speaks of a coming light that will conquer darkness (Isaiah 9:2-5) and a future government unlike anything before it (Isaiah 9:6–7). What does the Bible say about this light?
In both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we see the prophecy of this light being fulfilled. Notice what Matthew says of Jesus. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, … The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:13–16, KJV) According to this, the light Isaiah spoke of is a who, not a what. This light is Jesus! Notice what Jesus says of himself, … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12, KJV)
The darkness of this world has not only been conquered by Jesus, but every believer carries this light in them, which shines through them, expelling darkness. Ye are the light of the world. … Let your light so shine before men… (Matthew 5:14–16, KJV) … among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:15, KJV) Of course, this world we live in is under the influence of the evil one and the darkness of sin. But what a thought—Christ in us powerfully expels this darkness around us! Let’s rejoice that light has come to us, and we have this ministry of bringing light to others in darkness!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12.