Christmas Light

CHRISTMAS LIGHT—John 1:4-13

John describes the light of Christmas.

Christmas is a celebration of light.

How is Christmas a celebration of Light?

18 Depictions of the Light of Christmas

1—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

LIFE(:4)

—Explanation:

“In Him was life, & the life was the light of men.”

Jn. 10:10— “...I have come that they may have life, & that they may have it more abundantly.”

Acts 5:20— “But an angel of the Lord...said, "Go your way, stand & speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas a Light of LIFE?

2—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

INTENTION(:4)

—Explanation:(:4)

“...& the life was the light of men.”

It is a fact that the light was the light of men.

Intended for mankind.

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light INTENTIONAL?

3—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

COMPULSION(:4)

—Explanation:(:4)

“... & the life was the light of men.”

—Draws mankind

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light COMPELLING?

4—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

PRESENCE(:5)

—Explanation:(:5)

“And the light shines in the darkness, & the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Present among mankind for whom it is intended.

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of God’s PRESENCE?...Effectual Now?

5—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

RECOGNITION/Contrast(:5)

—Explanation:(:5)

“And the light shines in the darkness...”

Contrasts darkness

Shines/Visible against a dark backdrop

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light One of RECOGNITION/CONTRAST?

6—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

SEIZURE/GRASP(:5) Comprehension/

—Explanation:(:5)

“... the darkness did not comprehend it.”

“Comprehend/Understood”—katalambanw— ‘To Apprehend/Take or lay hold of/Seize upon//Take in hand.’ From—kata—down from, through out, according to, toward, along. lambanw—To claim or procure for oneself— ‘Thouroughly procured’

—Illustration:

Reading comprehension test/Read=application

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of SEIZURE/GRASP?

7—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

CHOICE(:6)

—Explanation:(:6)

“There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.”

God’s Chosen messenger

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one CHOSEN by God?

8—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

WITNESS(:7)

—Explanation:(:7)Pointed out/Shown/Declared

“He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light,...”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of WITNESS?

9—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

TRUST(:7) Hope/Belief

—Explanation:(:7)Trusted/Believed/Looked to

“...that all might believe through him.”

Jn. 3:18— “ "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of TRUST in the Savior?

10—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

IDENTITY(:8)

—Explanation:(:8)Wrong associations/Separation/Confusion

“He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.”

Confused with the Chosen/Witness

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of IDENTITY with Christ or Confusion?

11—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

TRUTH(:9)

—Explanation:(:9)

“There was the true light...”

....As opposed to false light.

Jn. 8:32— “ & you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free."”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of TRUTH?

12—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

ENLIGHTENMENT(:9)

—Explanation:(:9)

“...which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Real Enlightenment

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of ENLIGHTENMENT?

13—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

KNOWLEDGE(:10)

—Explanation:(:10)Personal Experience/Intimacy

“He was in the world, & the world was made through Him, & the world did not know Him.”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of KNOWLEDGE of & Intimacy with God?

14—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

REJECTION(:11)

—Explanation:(:11) Sacrifice

“He came to His own, & those who were His own did not receive Him.”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of REJECTION?

15—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

RECEPTION(:12)

—Explanation:(:12)

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of RECEPTION?

16—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

RIGHT(:12)

—Explanation:(:12) Family/Authority

“...to them He gave the right to become children of God,...”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of RIGHT?

17—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

THE NAME(:12)

—Explanation:(:12)

“...even to those who believe in His name”

Rom. 10:13— “For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."”

Acts 4:12— “"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."”

—Application:

?Is my Christmas Light one of THE NAME of Jesus?

18—The Light of Christmas is the Light of

RE-BIRTH(:13)

—Explanation:(:13)

“....who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Jn. 3:7— “ "Do not marvel that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’”