The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. (Isaiah 9:2-4)

Yesterday and today, as we observe the passages for the Third Sunday of Epiphany, we observe a passing of the torch. NIL has broken the log jam in the NCAA caused by patterned behavior. The log jam was no one new had really come to the scene in my lifetime, a life that is 66 years and a few months. Sure, there were exceptions, but year in and year out, the teams remained the same.

When I was a kid, the champion-caliber teams in an era of pure rankings, no playoffs, and a bowl system were, from my memory: Ohio State, Alabama, UT, Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, USC and a few others here and there. I don't follow sports like a rabid fan, but I do read about and track teams I like. None of them have ever dared enter the conversation, until NIL and a playoff system came to be. The Old Guard warns us through their prophets, like Nick Saban, of an end to the innocence of college football as we know it.

The new guard embraces the system, learns it, and wins. Who are Texas Tech and Indiana to dare invade the sacred space of these teams and that dare occupy championship land? Let us return to the days of old, where we have guidelines from the NCAA, an investigation body of rules that are enforced and punishment handed out for young upstarts, and a bowl system that is pure, where rankings are not influenced by things like money and the ill-gotten gain of interlopers who stand on hallowed ground.

In today's passage, Isaiah promises Israel that a new order will be coming. This new order will restore God's reign. Familiar passages are following in Isaiah 9, but Isaiah is promising restoration to a day in which Israel will experience greatness unlike any other. A promise for the delivery of a messiah, who will govern like no other.

Sadly, when Christ does come as we observe at Christmas, his time on earth is met by chaos and fear caused by comfort found in darkness. Herod seeks him to kill him and kills many innocent lives in the process. As he grows and begins his ministry, the old guard is beyond skeptical too. They have established a relationship with Rome which is nice and cozy. Christ did not come to earth to restore cozy though.

Christ brings light to a land that is a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:104). Christ is a "light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:32). He gives us comfort from our burdens. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

Sadly, we are close to the season where we witness Christ's suffering, death and resurrection brought on by darkness in this world caused by our sin. Let us pray that the good news we share overcomes darkness and all its allies, namely sin, Satan, and death.