Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:1-2
The birth of Jesus was announced to the world by a bright host of angels shattering the darkness over the hills where shepherds were watching their sheep. The arrival of the King of the Jews was announced to the wise men by the appearance of a new star in the darkness of the night sky. That is only fitting, for the baby born in Bethlehem came to bring light into the world darkened by sin. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 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).
The light of Jesus is not just a light of example or a light of kindness or a light of teaching, though it includes all of those things. It is the light of God Himself. It is the Source of all light and shines forth with both truth and grace. It provides the hope of salvation for all who believe in Jesus as Saviour. John wrote, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Luke 1:9).
Ever since sin entered into the world, man's default condition has been darkness. Our only hope of finding our way out of the bondage of sin and the certainty of death and eternal separation from God is for someone to bring light into that darkness. Jesus is that Someone. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not....But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:4–5, 12).