The Father God sent Jesus into a world of unbelief, rebelliousness and disobedience to the Father’s heart and ways.
He sent His Son not to condemn the world, for the world was already condemned and made a slave to sin and death (see John 3:17).
But in the darkness came a ray of light, Immanuel, God with us, who pierced and pushed back the darkness with His life, death and resurrection in order to reach the whole world with His love.
The light of His love is not turning from darkness but is penetrating right through it, aimed at destroying the lies and the grip of fear that darkness brings.
Jesus came into the greatest darkness so we could embrace the light of His truth and love and see ourselves made in His image—not the image of darkness, but the image of His light.
The dark arts of unbelief, rebelliousness, disobedience, sin and death were defeated by the love and gift of a good Father displayed through Jesus.
Now He sends us, the Church, into dark places to shine the light of His love and set those who are captives to darkness free by the Father’s embrace.
This is the Good News—we get to announce and demonstrate the finished work of the cross and embrace the world with His love.
Brian Blount – Taken from my book – Putting Jesus on Display with Love and Power.
