A Light Has Dawned

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“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1-4)

Jefferson’s baptism on Sunday was in an ideal place. The house that his church chose to baptize five new Christians had a pool that overlooks the entire city of Tegucigalpa. The sweeping view of the city on this crystal clear, warm December day also included the mountains that stretch beyond the limits of this capital city and on into the horizon. A view which invites long, reflective thoughts.

But even more ideal than place was the timing of Jefferson’s baptism. What better way to celebrate Christ’s birth than with a baptism? As Jefferson’s pastor plunged him into the depths of the cool mountain water, the very act recalled that fact that Christ, though King, immersed himself into a dark and vicious world that could not stand to be in the presence of such searing light. That sense of drowning, of losing control as the pastor’s hand takes away your ability to breathe, to see…mustn’t Christ have experienced a similar loss when he plunged himself into a blind and drowning world?

Yet just as Jefferson plunged down, he was also raised up again, up toward the sparkling blue sky of that December morning. His Savior's resurrection provided him a passageway from darkness to light…a soul cleansed from impurities in order to be presented unblemished before the throne of light. And that, again, is the Christmas message: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Jefferson’s baptism on Sunday was the absolute best way to celebrate Christmas. It is better than Christmas trees, better than brightly wrapped presents, even better than candlelit ceremonies. It proclaims that Christ’s light broke through the darkness to redeem the most unredeemable of lives. Jefferson, who grew up in a shack in one of Tegucigalpa’s poorest neighborhoods, whose father’s way of dealing with a dark world is by submerging his sorrows in alcohol; Jefferson, who even this month was weeping over the fact that the gangs had issued a death warrant for his younger brother…even Jefferson, with his shadow-of-death back-story, can so boldly proclaim the mystery of his faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Even in this life that seemed destined to drown in sorrow at a young age, Jefferson’s decision to publicly proclaim his hope in a just and loving heavenly Father brings great joy to my heart. Indeed, in these times of economic uncertainty and in this place in which darkness still seems to inflict damaging blows, the words “Merry Christmas” sometimes ring a bit hollow. Jefferson’s baptism serves as a reminder that Christmas is about salvation, about hope of eternal life, about preparing for that day in which His light will destroy darkness once and for all. It is the utmost joy.

Joyeux noël,

Michael Miller