“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 (BSB)
 
As the days are increasingly getting darker, this revelation of Jesus as our “Light” which overcomes the darkness is desperately needed. In His face we see the true reflection of God. “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 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 BSB)
 
So, when I heard this was to be the focus of an upcoming prayer night where I would be painting during worship, I couldn’t wait to depict this attribute of God. The first imagery that came to mind was once again the face of Jesus, this time with the universe surrounding Him in rapturous peace. Echoing the dawn of creation, this scene portrays the beauty of the One to whom all darkness must bow.
 
Darkness, khoshek, is the twelfth word found in the Bible: “Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 BSB) Now darkness is not in and of itself evil, but metaphorically it is pictured as a dwelling place of evil. Evil loves the shadows, disguising it’s face and avoiding the light at all costs. It is this evil which our Messiah, Jesus, is foretold to come and shine upon. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2 BSB)
 
Repeatedly, like a chorus you never want to come to an end, the Bible reverberates with this promise of the Light overcoming the darkness…
 
“For You, O LORD, are my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.” (2 Samuel 22:29 BSB)
 
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” (Micah 7:8 BSB)
 
“On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” (Isaiah 29:18 BSB)
 
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)
 
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1 BSB)
 
“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:11-12)
 
Can you feel the hope infused into these words? Whatever you face today, God wants you to shine and know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He can overcome any darkness that we encounter. It is His agonizing death and resurrection from the dead which has ultimately defeated evil and the grave forever. We are bound to darkness no longer! It is time to walk in the Light!
And though darkness may seem to be winning in the world today and be ever expanding, we can say with assurance, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 BSB)