The morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness. -Luke 1:78–79
“We’re going to give God all the glory right now.” The organ plays, the choir begins to sway, and the congregation starts to sing. But this is no church service, and the speaker is no preacher.
Instead, it’s a rap artist at Britain’s Glastonbury music festival. That night he leads the one-hundred-thousand-strong crowd to sing a gospel song about being “broken” and unworthy of God’s help but “blinded” by His grace.
This spiritual interlude in a secular festival may seem surprising, but I think it makes sense. One British poll found that a fifth of those who don’t believe in Jesus pray during a crisis, suggesting that deep down a surprising number of people are “religious.”
A time comes when we realize that we’re broken and need Someone greater than us to fix our dark world.
An answer to these prayers came on the first Christmas. At the news of Jesus’ coming birth, Mary sang of corrupt leaders being brought low (Luke 1:52), and Zechariah sang that a light had come “to give light to those who sit in darkness” (v. 79).
After Christ’s birth, angels sang of peace coming to earth (2:13–14). Through Jesus, an unworthy world was about to receive God’s help.
So, with Zechariah, let’s thank God that the Light has come this Christmas. With that rap artist, let’s marvel at its blinding brilliance. And let’s pray that one day every stage will announce Jesus’ arrival and every heart prepare Him a home.
And that’s the memo.
By Sheridan Voysey and Our Daily Bread
