Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Luke 22:52-53 NIV
Light and darkness. We most often use these words about physical light. Or the absence of that light. And while the Scripture also uses them that way, they are also used in reference to spiritual conditions. John started his gospel off by declaring Jesus to be the light of humanity (John 1:4). And Isaiah 9:2, quoted by Matthew and Luke, said that the people walking in spiritual darkness had seen a great light. The light of Christ.
But this world does not like the light that he brings. And they will do whatever they can to extinguish it. Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion were a time of great darkness. A time, as Jesus said, when darkness reigned. And darkness continues to reign in much of our world today. As believers, we may rightly blame that darkness, at least in part, on the sinfulness of unbelievers.
Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness
But we also need to be willing to accept responsibility for it ourselves. We are now the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). But all too often, we hide that light and are but little different from the world around us. Instead, we should let our “light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16 NIV).
