This Light From a Child in the Darkness: Epiphany with Isaiah
a reflection on BZ’s first sermon of 2026
Because I was under the weather on Sunday, this is the only sermon reflection for Sunday, January 4, 2026. In this essay I share my reflections about Brian Zahnd’s sermon, called This Light From a Child in the Darkness: Epiphany with Isaiah.
artwork :: “Adoration of the Magi” by Giotto, 1305
Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
3 Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,[a]
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Matthew 2:1-12 :: The Visit of the Wise Men
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
In a dark time Isaiah 60:1-6 prophesies of the gentiles drawn to the glory of the Lord. We can see the story of the magi in Isaiah’s prophecy. The Roman senate made Herod king of Jews as a kind of patronage reward. Herod was not of line of David. He felt insecure about his power as king. The Magis come to Jerusalem to ask where is the new king of the Jews. Herod finds out about the birth of Jesus and then he summons chief priests and scribes and asks where the messiah will be born. As the wise men left Herod they saw the star, it led them to the Jesus. They worshipped Him and gave the gifts as Isaiah prophesied. Jesus is the light that leads us, gives us vision.
In John 9, Jesus and His disciples in Jerusalem encounter a man born blind. The disciples ask Jesus who sinned to make this man blind. Jesus says the man is born blind so that the works of G-d may be revealed in him. In an act reminiscent of Genesis formation of man on 6th day, Jesus heals the man by mixing His spit with some mud, then tells him to wash in the pool. The washing in the pool represents baptism. Creation is incomplete, Jesus comes to complete it. In the John chapter 9 story, Jesus encounters the blind man on the 7th day, ie Sabbath.
Jesus is the light, we are blind, blind leading blind. It’s by the light of Jesus that we can see. Life makes sense because of light of Christ, not because of any ism. Conservativism versus Progressivism battle for domination in the world. Yet the only hope is in Jesus. Let the light of your face shine on us, says Psalm 4:6. Rather than ask for better times, let’s ask for the light of Jesus to shine.