The Light of Life

In Christ, life and light are inseparable—darkness cannot overcome Him.

John 1:5 | “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it”

“Light the lamp, not the rat”

My all-time favorite Christmas story is “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. I’ve seen just about all the film adaptations, Mickey’s version, the one starring Jim Carey as Ebenezer, even the old 1954 UK tv special (shoutout to Basil Rathbone for portraying the smoothest Jacob Marley ever). While these versions are all great in their own regard, they all pale in comparison the masterpiece that is the 1992 classic “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. Where else can you witness a disgruntled Scrooge played by Michael Caine acting against Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, experience 19th century London accompanied by Muppet antics, and be curated through it all by Gonzo the Great and Rizzo the Rat?...Nowhere else, that’s where.

It was through these screen adaptations that I came to love the writing of Charles Dickens, while I’ve read most of his literary works, each Christmas season I always come back to A Christmas Carol. You know the story; a miserly old businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge, is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve each of which showing him the error of his stingy ways. Upon awakening on Christmas morning, Scrooge is relieved to discover there is still time to change his station and commits the remainder of his life to the spreading joy and benevolence.

While the arc of Ebenezer Scrooge is timeless, what is often missed in the story is Dickens use of light as a metaphorical motif for life. At the start, Scrooge’s home is dark and cold reflecting the darkness of his heart (“darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it”). As each of the spirits guide Scrooge into “the light” (each literally emanating some form of light) he begins change, to love, to lighten. On Christmas morning he throws open the curtains allowing the light of Christmas morning to flood into his typically dingy bedroom signifying a complete surrender to a new way of life. The light shines in the darkness, and Scrooge is forever changed exclaiming, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year”.

John 1:5 reveals the notion that In Christ, life and light are synonymous. He is the light that dispels the darkness of sin and ignorance. Scrooge did a 180 once he was awakened to the light. The joy and kindness that now illuminated his once dark countenance was infectious to all he encountered. Not only was he now changed, but the light shined through him unto others.

This Christmas, I pray that wherever you find yourself that the light of Christ will radiate through you, and if should you find yourself in a season of darkness, I pray The Holy Spirit will provide the resolution to throw open the curtain and let the light of Jesus fill you with new life.

God Bless Us, Everyone!

-Zak O’Day