Reflecting the True Light By W. Scott Brown

Finding Beauty in the True Light

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

John 1:9

I love cathedrals. Their soaring stone arches and brilliantly colored stained-glass testify to God’s glory. One breathtaking aspect of cathedrals is how sunlight displays itself across stone floors and walls through stained-glass windows.

The expert architects and craftspeople who built Christian cathedrals recognized how light and beauty point our hearts and minds to God’s glory.

My wife Kristin and I love visiting Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, the world’s sixth largest. Its massive “Creation” stained-glass rose window features more than 10,000 pieces of glass. As the sun sets, it casts a glorious prism of radiant light through the cathedral’s nave.

One of its oldest stained-glass windows is in its Bethlehem chapel. It depicts angels announcing the birth of Jesus. The light it radiates reminds us of Simeon’s proclamation about the baby Jesus:

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:29-32

On a recent trip to England, Kristin and I visited inspiring cathedrals with age-old displays of light, glass, and stone, such as York Minster, featuring the most extensive collection of medieval stained glass in the UK. We also toured King’s College Chapel, home of the world-famous Choir of King’s College. According to the University of Cambridge’s Archeology Department, “The stained-glass windows of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, are among the most celebrated in the world.”

The light reflecting through beautiful stained-glass windows like these is emblematic of the light that came into our world through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Light has Dawned

Scripture is replete with references to light. Regarding Jesus, Matthew points us to Isaiah’s prophecy:

“the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Matt. 4:16

John the Apostle in the poetic first chapter of the book of John reflects this theme of light.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:4-5

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”

John 1:9-10

“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.”

John 1:14

Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world:

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12

Later, we glimpse Jesus’ glory on the Mount of Transfiguration:

“There he was transfigured before them. His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”

Matt. 17:2

Light out of Darkness

During this Christmas season, let’s share the light and hope of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

 2 Cor. 4:5-6

W. Scott Brown, CCNL, is vice president for leadership experiences and resources for Christian Leadership Alliance and serves as editor-in-chief for the Alliance’s national magazine Outcomes. He and his wife Kristin live in Arlington, VA, near our nation’s capital.