Light Out of the Darkness - Then and Now

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” (Acts 9:20-21 ESV) Luke the doctor records for us the surprising reaction of those who witnessed the transformation of this vehement opponent of those who called on Jesus’ name. Today at International Lutheran Church as we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul, we witness the Epiphany light of God’s Christ, our Savior Jesus, shining into our lives. For us, too, this monumental event is a sign and testimony of God’s grace, and how God brings light out of the darkness revealing how Jesus is our Epiphany!

During the Epiphany season, one major theme is that of light, but particularly how the light shines out of the darkness. Not only is this the first of God’s creative acts on the first day (Genesis 1:2-4) but it is also a testimony of His ongoing work of salvation. Not only does God actually bring light out of physical darkness, but He also brings faith (the light of life) out of the spiritual darkness of sin. This is especially evident in the story of one particular zealous Pharisee named Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. Probably one of the most dramatic transformations in the Bible, his personal encounter with the Risen Christ is the Epiphany that he and we need each and every day – the Epiphany of God’s grace in our lives.

Unlike some in Saul’s day who were more or less apathetic to the new phenomenon of this new group called the Way, those followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Saul took a more extreme reaction. He was zealous for God and God’s law and therefore sought to have these people arrested. Yet in the process, literally on the road, Saul is stopped in his tracks by no less than the Risen Christ Himself – Jesus of Nazareth.  And in that blinding instance, Saul was moved from darkness to light. Through the trembling hands of one follower of Jesus, Ananias, Saul received both baptism into Jesus’ name and his sight back. Though he had formerly persecuted these followers, he now became one of the most ardent followers of Jesus. The one who brought letters to arrest those who called on Jesus was now proclaiming Him to be the Son of God.

Why is this important for you and me? Because God is still making the light of His Christ to shine into the darkness of our sin, fear, and death, so that all would see and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God who came to give His life for us that we might live in the light of His Christ. In Baptism, we, like Saul, receive the Holy Spirit, and the scales of our past ultimately give way to His abiding presence. In this Holy Baptism, God makes His light to shine into our hearts that we would become His very vessels of that light to the nations. He does not choose the strong, but the weak. He does not choose the wise, but the foolish so that His light - His Epiphany - can shine through the darkest, most helpless, most impossible places in our world. Yes, His light shines in the darkness then and now!

Blessed Epiphany,

Pastor Carl