We’ve compared the City of Light to the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and here, the birth of Christ.

Shepherds Keeping Watch

In Luke 2, shepherds keep watch by night over their flock. This introduces the idea of an opposite: the night is the opposite of the light which illuminates the city. In fact, I believe the night lies directly beneath the city.

In its Light

Look at the next part of the shepherd story. An angel of the lord stands by them and shines with the glory of Christ. The nations walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory of the nations into the city. Standing. Walking. Shining. Glory. Clear connections.

Inner Gate

The angel brings good news of great joy for all the people. The gates of the city will never be shut. This suggests something new: the gospel story opens the inner gate of the city.

Main Entrance

The shepherd story continues: a savior has been born into David’s city. To me, this is the doorway in reverse. Christ entered this world, in human form, so we may enter his. His City.

Outer Gate

Nothing profane will enter into the city, which connects to a baby, wrapped in cloth, lying in a feeding trough.

Perhaps the feeding trough is a place profane. Perhaps it symbolizes something deeper – like a tomb – or death itself. Death has no place in the city of light.

Only Those

To me, this is the cool part. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter the city. In the shepherd story, suddenly, there appears with the angel a great multitude, praising God and declaring peace among men.

Perhaps the angels, like you and I, are those whose names are written in Jesus’ book of life. The angels go away into Heaven. They enter the city of light, I believe for the first time.

Place of Revelation

The passage returns to the source, a river of life, shining like crystal. The shepherds say, “let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing Goad has made known. In the bible, I’ve discovered light to be a symbol of something revealed.

Decide for yourself, but to me, it’s becoming increasingly clear these passages work together.

To me, the interesting thing is this. Strings and the book of Revelation tell a story set outside of time as we know it. The city of light connects to the point of Jesus death, and his resurrection, and his birth. A deeper story is being revealed, one that is not bound by time.

Strings, it seem, tell an entire gospel story – like an entire bible – in a radically simplified form. In the Luke 2 passage, one angel goes out. A great multitude returns. Christ enters our world so we can enter his. We see this at work, even as the newborn Christ lie in a feeding trough.

Click on the Commandments link below, or the right arrow, to compare the Law passage from Deuteronomy.