In the First Light: Behold! The Light Has Come

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast 

Genesis 1:3-4

 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. 

John 1:1-13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Art Deco Light Fixture – In Context | Omaha, NE | November 2022

You’ve likely seen them: bright beams of light sweeping across the sky. Something’s going on over there, I think. They beg for our attention. Usually it’s a car dealership, a grand opening, or some such place. And they don’t want just your attention. They want your money! But there is a different kind of light. Rather than calling attention to itself, it calls attention to that on which is focused. Look at this! See what is here! Behold! 

Jesus was born in obscurity. But he would not remain in obscurity. The maji who come to worship the newborn king so distress Herod with their question that he undertakes a quest to kill the once unnoticed child. They come bearing gifts fit for a king.

Behold! A virgin has conceived. Behold! A Savior has been born to you. Behold! Wise men from the east have come to worship him. Behold! The kingdom of God is at hand. Behold your king (a sarcastic and derisive comment by Pilate as Jesus stands before the crowd bloodied and battered)! Behold, I make all things new! Behold I am coming soon.

The prophet Isaiah calls out to us, inviting us to…

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
² For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
    and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
    and his glory will be seen upon you.
³ And nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your rising. – Isaiah 60:1-3

Our king has come. The Savior has been born. He is the true light coming into the world enlightening everyone. The heavens have been split open with an angelic chorus, “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth. Good will toward men.”

In the days of the Exodus the glory of God was seen at night as a pillar of fire. It was a sign of his presence. Now we see the glory of God in a manger, in the life, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But it is so veiled now. For the worship of the wisemen is all too much of an exception. The world’s wise men and women have little care for Jesus. Kings and religious leaders too easily and often dismiss Jesus’ unique grace and truth.

Soon, however, we will see Jesus coming on the clouds. This song reminds us that as glorious as the angelic chorus was on the night of Jesus’ birth, the glory at his Second Coming will be even greater.

Regarding that last thought in the ending of the song, I believe Jesus is ruling even now at the right hand of God. His is a rule of grace and steadfast love. On that Great Last Day the majestic glory will be fully revealed. Jesus will be honored by all – some under duress, others with joyful delight. Then we will truly rise and shine and rejoice in the full revelation of the Light of the world.

In the First Light

In the first light of a new day
No one knew He had arrived
Things continued as they had been
While a newborn softly cried.
But the heavens wrapped in wonder
Knew the meaning of His birth
In the weakness of a baby
They knew God had come to earth.

As His mother held him closely,
It was hard to understand
That this baby not yet speaking
Was the Word of God to man.
He would tell them of His kingdom,
But their hearts would not believe
They would hate Him and in anger
They would nail Him to a tree.

But the sadness would be broken
As the song of life arose
And the First born of creation
Would ascend and take his throne.
He had left it to redeem us,
But before His life began
He knew He’d come back not as a baby
But as The Lord of ev’ry man.

Hear the angels as they’re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again to earth
When He comes again

Hear the angels as they’re singing
On the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be
When He comes again to Earth
When He comes to rule the Earth!
When He comes back, When He comes back
To rule the Earth!

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Robert John Kauflin
In the First Light lyrics © Bridge Building Music, Organon Key Music

PS: You might find it interesting to read this biblical examination of the song.