Jesus the True Light of Christmas
John 1:1-9
Isaiah 9:1-2
The Apostle John in his Gospel the first chapter gives us a description of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
:”In the beginning was the Word, (Jesus) and the Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the Beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In his was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5
I. Jesus Is Alpha and Omega
The Apostle John declares that Jesus is Alpha and Omega. Jesus is the beginning and the end. Jesus did not have his beginning in a manger in a stable near Bethlehem. Jesus became God in human flesh. Jesus took on a real human body – all man yet all God. Jesus is the only true God-man who ever lived.
John 1:14, “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the incarnate Son of God.
E. Stanley Jones, former missionary to India, tried to think of a way to tell people in India about the love of God in Jesus. He said, suppose a farmer was plowing a field and he came upon an ant hill teaming with ants. How could the farmer warn the ants to get out of the way of the plow? There is only one way to communicate to the ants; to become an ant and give them a warning in their own language. All who would listen would be saved.
In Jesus God stepped out of heaven to communicate His plan of salvation. Jesus became one of us to communicate in our language and tell us of God’s love. John 3:16-18 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believes stands condemned already because he has not believes in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the eternal Son of God. For you to know Jesus is for you to know God. Jesus claimed that He and God the Father were equal.
The Jewish rulers and officials were questioning Jesus and his claim to be equal with God the Father. Jesus answered them by saying, John 10:37-38, “Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”
On a spiritual supernatural level God is Father, God is Son and God is Holy Spirit. God the Father is Creator, God the Son is Savior, and God the Holy Spirit is Administrator of God’s graces and gifts.
On a human level I am a father to my children, I am the son of my father, and my life comes from vital organs in my body. I can think on the human level, but my best thinking falls short by a million times how to comprehend God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on a spiritual level.
The Bible, God’s Word is clear, “In the beginning was the Word, Jesus and the Word, Jesus was with God and the Word, Jesus was and is God.
II. Jesus is Life and Light
The Apostle John declared that Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. John also declared that Jesus is Life and Light. Ever since the brightness of heaven flooded the hills of Bethlehem; and the far off twinkling star guided Eastern wise-men to the new born King…Christ has been the Light of the world, and we have celebrated Christmas with colorful lights.
John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Another translation says, “The darkness has not overcome it.”
At the time of Christ’s birth the Roman government was experiencing unprecedented prosperity, but the Roman officials were living in moral darkness. In the Roman society at that time working at common labor was a disgrace. The middle class had disappeared. In the empire there were 6 million slaves.
One Emperor, Vitellius, in less than eight months, spent several million dollars on special feasts.
Family life for the Romans had once been a sacred thing and for 520 years divorce was not a part of family life. But in the time of Christ a person of prestige was known by the number of divorces the person had. Children were regarded as a burden and their education was handed over to slaves. The practice of abortions was a general custom. One of the historians of that time, Tacitius, said of Rome, “to corrupt and be corrupt is the spirit of the times.” When we look at our American culture 2,000 years later there are many similarities. We need the light of Christ to shine forth in our darkness and show us the way.
The angel spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 and told him the purpose of the birth and advent of Jesus. “You shall call his name Jesus, he shall save the people from their sins.” Jesus came to give life, eternal life to all who will believe and follow him.
John the Baptizer said he was called by God to testify and prepare for the coming of Jesus the Messiah. John said he was not the Light, but his calling was to testify that the Light had come.
All of us have a similar calling as Christ followers: to witness and testify that Jesus is the life and light. Jesus challenged his disciples and each of us to not hide the light of the good news of Jesus under cover, don’t be a secret Christian, let the light of Christ shine through your life.
Remember light shines gently, to shine to hot can burn and bring discomfort. Shine forth with good sense and timing. To shine forth to forcefully is to become abrasive and obnoxious. Shine forth with kindness, gentleness, compassion and love. Then you will be life giving. The purpose of light is to shine. To not shine is to deny that Jesus is the Christ.
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out or overcome it.” John 1:5
In darkness a little light will go a long way. During our seminary days Carollyn and I visited the Maramac Caverns in Missouri. At one point in the tour all the lights were turned out and we experienced total darkness. You could see nothing. Then the tour guide lighted one little pen light. It shone brightly in the dark carve. Even so your light, be it ever so small, will shine brightly in the dark world around you. Let your light shine.
III. Jesus is the True Light
The Scriptures teach that Jesus is the True Light that shines to every person. In some form or other the spiritual light of Jesus shines truth to every person who reaches the age of accountability.-- (The age when a person realizes the difference between right or wrong choices.) All 6 billion plus people in the world and 300 million plus people in the Unites States have or will have experienced some form of spiritual light.
Jesus is the True Light. John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” If there is true light there is also false light. Satan is a counterfeit light. John 3:19-21 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that is may be seen plainly that when he had done has been done through God.”
God creates every person with the potential to embrace spiritual light and truth. Spiritual light is there in every heart, but when you make the willful choice to disobey and sin the light flickers. As a person rejects God’s truth the light grows dimmer and finally the person’s soul becomes dark and void. When a person allows the Light of Christ to shine in his or her heart the darkness of Satan and his fallen angels of doubt are cast out.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah who would give Life and Light: “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. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonder Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:2 speaks to the people living in the Silicon Valley and walking in darkness. The people have seen a great light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” As Christ followers you are shining forth the Light of Jesus through your life and witness. Wherever you work or go you are punching holes in darkness. As more people become Christ followers the greater the light will become.
With all the diversity in the Silicon Valley the Light of Jesus Christ brings unity.
Charles Colson, president of Prison Fellowship attorney and former hatchet man of President Nixon, committed his life to Jesus after spending time in prison. He tells of receiving a call from Evangelist Billy Graham. Dr. Graham asked him to go and pray for a new believer, Eldridge Cleaver, a Black Panther leader. With some reluctance Colson agreed to go have prayer with Eldridge Cleaver. He asked hiss friend and former Senator Harold Hughes and he also asked a former prisoner and leader of the KKK to meet with them. The former KKK leader asked Colson if it was safe to meet with the former Black Panther leader. Colson said Billy Graham had said Cleaver had become Christian and he believed him. They met for prayer, the four of them knelt together and prayed together seeking God’s direction. Democratic leader Harold Hughes, republican leader Charles Colson, Black Panther leader, and a former leader of the KKK, united in prayer. The love of Christ unites.
Jesus is the hope of all living in the Silicon Valley, darkness will never overcome the Light of Christ. “The people walking have seen a great light…for unto us a child is born, to us a son is given.”
Sin, like a virus has caused a breakdown and disconnect in all our lives. A Son is born and a child is given – a spiritual redeemer, a virus cleanser, Jesus came to provide the Way, the Truth and the Life so we can know God personally and begin to walk in the Light of God’s truth.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Jesus is the true light of Christmas.
Jesus is Alpha and Omega..
Jesus is life and light.
Jesus is the true light that gives light to ever person.
Have you made decision that has caused the light of Jesus to flicker and grow dim in your life? This Christmas welcome Jesus to shine His truth into your heart and life. Make the decision to become a Christ follower.
