Why the Light of Christmas is Meaningful to This Pastor’s Kid

I’ve always been struck by the added emphasis on light at Christmastime. Wrapping trees, adorning houses, and lining walkways, light breaks through the darkness and inspires hope. Perhaps the tradition of stringing lights isn’t a Christian tradition, but Christians know that light tells a deeper story. 

The darkness of this present time feels heavy, and PKs sometimes see this darkness a bit more. Our dads walk with church members through suffering. We watch them shepherd believers through the valley of the shadow when light very much seems absent. We look across the pews and know a little more of the suffering represented there than most church kids do. 

But be encouraged, pastors. By God’s grace, seeing the reality of darkness can allow your PK to marvel at the light. 

A light in the darkness

Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s a privilege to feel the weight of another’s sadness, to weep with those who weep. And I’ve become better acquainted with the heart of Jesus, the shepherd who came to suffer with his sheep. 

Consider the words of John 1:14. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, but let’s let its profoundness resonate in our hearts afresh:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. He did this, understanding that becoming like us meant he would suffer with us. He left the glory-filled presence of the Father to join us in the dark willingly.

I love these words from “Glory in the Darkest Place,” a Christmas song by Sovereign Grace Music:

You came to make your blessings known
And bear our curse of death alone
You came to share our suffering
So in our sorrow we could sing
Glory, glory, glory in the darkest place

He came to share our suffering. What a humbling, grace-filled reality. We sing at Christmastime because a baby boy shattered this present darkness with the glory of his presence. Pastor, your PK may look out across pews and see the sufferings of believers they love. But you can pray that they also see glimmers of light adorning the darkness, pointing to a King. 

Indeed, all light does point to the King of Light who came and is coming again. Isaiah 9:2 foretells his first coming:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.

Illuminating the advent to come

This is a glorious truth, to be sure. It’s what we celebrate each Christmas. But I’d like to think we also get to celebrate something more. You see, all the light of the first advent shines forward to illuminate the advent still to come. When this day arrives, the King of Light will return, never to leave us again. Instead, he’ll take us to dwell in the glory of his presence forever. Revelation 21:22-26 tells us of the city where we’ll dwell:

“And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.”

Christmas takes on a fuller meaning when we consider that Christ’s first coming wasn’t the end. The Lamb who was slain will be our light when he comes to take us to himself, just as he promised his disciples he would. 

Light floods hearts with hope

Christmas is meaningful to me as a PK because something as simple as lights on a string flood my heart with hope. When I look across the church rows and see beloved suffering saints, I don’t have to despair. The King of Light has come and is coming again. Pastors, if you remind your children and your churches of this reality this Christmas, you’ve done well. 

But don’t forget that the light is for you too. As you walk with suffering saints and suffer yourself, may you be reminded that Jesus came to shatter the darkness, join the suffering, and one day take every believer to the Kingdom of Light. The future quite literally couldn’t be brighter for those who are in him. So, as you walk through the valley of the shadow with members of your flock, remember that the shepherd King walks with you. Let every strand of Christmas lights this season remind you that the King of Light is coming back. Let’s long for him together.

©2023 Abby Jo Thompson. Used with permission.