It was a time of growing darkness for the covenant people. There was not much light in sight. Israel, the northern kingdom, had fallen to the Assyrians and now they threatened Jerusalem itself. Isaiah had pointed to these disasters as sign of judgment from Yahweh, the Covenant God. But the people learned nothing from all the disasters. With nothing but tiny Judah and David’s city left unconquered, it only seemed a matter of time. It was a time of growing darkness. And to the people walking in that darkness, Isaiah now proclaimed the coming of a great light.

We are gathered this Christmas [Eve, Day] to celebrate the light. In a world that rivals Isaiah’s for darkness, we have come together as a people on whom the light has shined. John was right: "the light shined in the darkness and the d…