“The Light of Christmas”
Last week we looked at God’s view of the Christmas journey out of John’s Gospel chapter one. In verses four and five it says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5 NKJV)
This got me thinking about the light of Jesus, and so I’d like to share with you in our message today, “The Light of Christmas.”
Have you noticed that the closer Christmas gets, the lights become a little brighter, especially in the stores, and that’s because the brighter and more colorful the lights, the more attention they draw.
But the brightest light of them all was over 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. It wasn’t the star in the sky, but the star that lay in the manger. The light of the universe came down and shone for a short wile amongst His creation.
In speaking of the coming Messiah, the prophet Isaiah said,
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2 NKJV)
Then Isaiah gave the well-known prophecy about the Messiah saying, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)
In describing this marvelous event, the Apostle John said that Jesus, the Word, was in the beginning with God, and who was God, and in whom there was life and that life was the light of men, and that this light then came down and dwelt with us.
And so the light of God Himself, Jesus, came down and shone upon humanity.
After Jesus forgave the woman of her adultery, He said,
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
Jesus using the phrases “light of the world,” and “light of life,” is not without significance. In the end, Jesus is going to be the only light shining.
In the end there will be no need of either the sun or moon, but the glory of God will illuminate the entire world, and Jesus is that light. Just as Jesus was the light in the beginning of Creation, so will He be the light of the new heaven and earth. Jesus truly is the Bright and Morning Star.
“I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16b NKJV)
And so, it is to this darkened sin filled world that Jesus said,
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness (John 12:46 NLT)
Now, there are several attributes of light that I would like to share with you that are relevant to our lives.
1. Light Attracts Attention
Our eyes are immediately drawn to light. When you enter a dark room and there is a single light source shining, like a lamp or candle, your eye is immediately drawn to it. It will be the fist thing you see. When you are outside at night, when a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, your eyes are immediately drawn to the light. Isaiah, when speaking about the coming Messiah, said the same thing in the Scripture we looked at a moment ago. Let’s look at it again.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2 NKJV)
This was a prophetic word of how the Messiah is going to light up the world when He comes, and all who live in this sin darkened world will sit up and pay attention. In other words, people are going to be attracted to His light.
Now, considering the timing and the conditions surrounding Jesus’ birth, it attracted a while lot more attention than anyone would have thought.
• His parents were poor, and no one really notices another child being born to poor parents. It wasn’t like they were rich and famour, or of royal nobility.
• He was born away from His home. There were no family members to brag about Him to neighbors and friends.
• He was born in a stable with animals as roommates in a small insignificant town called Bethlehem. In fact, He wasn’t even born in in the town, but rather on the outskirts.
• He was born at night when everyone’s asleep.
• And He was born over 1400 years before the printing press, and 1900 years before radio, TV, or the Internet, so who was ever going to notice.
But God brought forth divine light and saw to it that Jesus’ birth attracted attention.
There were on that night shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flocks, when suddenly an angel appeared and the light of God’s glory shone all around. You might say that God had caught their attention.
• And the angel said, “I am bringing you the most joyous news you’re ever going to hear. The Messiah you’ve been waiting for has been born who is no one other than the Lord God Himself.”
• And so they went to where the angel directed them, and after seeing the baby, they went out and blabbed it all over the countryside, and Jesus’ birth probably became the talk of that area for quite some time.
And then you have the heavenly star that attracted the attention of the wise men in the East to actually pack their bags and make the trip Westward to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.
And when Jesus began His ministry as the Light in a dark world, He attracted a whole lot of attention. Actually He became the center of attention. As large crowds followed Him and people came from all over to hear and be healed by Him.
From the time of His birth until He died upon the cross, Jesus attracted people’s attention and guess what, He is still attracting attention today.
This is how Jesus described it.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (John 12:32 NKJV)
Jesus said this signifying the type of death He would experience, that is, crucifixion, and as we lift Him, and what He did for us upon that cross, then He will indeed draw all peoples unto Himself.
For it was by His death that He forever dealt with the problem of sin and humanity’s separation from God. And it’s when we shine the light of Jesus’ love, a love that took Him to the cross to die, and shine it upon the darkness of people’s sin, they’ll start paying attention. And while they may not always like what they hear, they will hear it.
So Jesus is still attracting attention. He is that irresistible light that draws people out of spiritual darkness and into the light of life, the true light of God.
And so the fits attribute of light is that it attracts attention.
2. Light Guides Our Steps
Just as a lighthouse guides ships through dangerous waters, so does the light of Jesus guide us through the darkness of this world. Jesus came to give our lives direction. Even at His birth, a special star guided the magi to their destination.
Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, prophesied of the coming Messiah that He came…
“To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79 NKJV)
Of His time here on earth Jesus said,
“A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35 NKJV)
Yet even after His death His light does not fail. He told His disciples that He would not leave them alone, but would send them the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth and bring everything to remembrance He had said.
And so, when you face those decisions in your life, when darkness seems to overtake you, Jesus as that light will guide your steps and direct your path. That was always God’s promise when you continue in His light, in His way.
Solomon said,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)
Here’s a question for you. Have you ever tried to walk around blindfolded? I remember when I tried this years ago, and it seemed like the smallest obstacles become major obstructions. But when the blindfold is removed, I had no problem navigating my way.
In the same way, if we’re not walking in the light of Jesus, the obstacles of this life become huge problems and we’ll eventually and inevitably stumble.
Jesus said,
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
This bring me to the last aspect of light that I would like to share
3. Light Exposes Reality
Did you ever wonder why two lovers like to have romantic dinners by candlelight? It’s because in a darkened room we look a whole lot better. All our flaws, wrinkles, loss of hair are not as noticeable. The darkness conceals the reality. But Jesus said that darkness really isn’t our friend.
“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:20 NKJV)
Ever notice that most crimes are done at night under the cover of darkness? Jesus pointed this out to those coming to arrest Him. He asked why they didn’t arrest Him during the day? And then He said it was because their hour was darkness. They loved the darkness more than the light.
If we are trying to conceal our sin, and if we don’t want to be exposed, then we escape to the darkness. That’s why so many people run away from Jesus Christ. It’s because His light exposes their sin. This was part of His purpose in coming, to reveal humanity’s true condition.
After He was born, Jesus’ parents took Him to the temple to get circumcised. On their way they met a very just and devout man named Simeon, who had been waiting for the Messiah. He said,
“For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32 NKJV)
Jesus would reveal to both Jews and Gentiles the truth about humanity’s true condition before a holy and righteous God.
As sinful creatures we love the cover of darkness, but once exposed to the light of Jesus, we are never content to walk in darkness again. And even though we sometimes slip back into our old ways and habits, there’s still within us the light of Jesus, revealing the truth, in that He has a purpose for our lives, which brings us back to walk in the light of His truth.
Jesus is the spiritual light that shines in the darkness of this world, and the darkness of our souls to bring everlasting life to all who will believe in Him. Jesus said,
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved…And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:17,19 NKJV)
Conclusion
We have a choice. We can choose Jesus and live eternally in heaven and in His light, or we can choose the world and live eternally in darkness separated from God in hell. But the reality is that no one chooses darkness, rather they reject the light and thus stay in the darkness.
For those of us who accept the light of Jesus by asking Him into our lives to be their Savior and Lord, to us Jesus gives not only this gift of light, but tells us to share this gift.
“You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14a, 16 NKJV)
We’re not to hide our light, but rather we’re to be out there shining it forth. We need not only to have the light of Jesus shine within us, but we need that light to shine out from us as well.
An artist had just finished painting a very bleak winter scene. Imagine it if you would. It depicted a storm sweeping across the countryside. The trees were barren, angry storm clouds loomed above, and frost and hints of snow were upon the ground. Over in the corner he drew a cabin, which looked as dead and barren as the landscape.
But with a simple brush stroke, he touched one of the cabin’s windows with gold paint. All of a sudden the picture was transformed into a picture of warmth, an invitation to come in from the cold. The picture that once seemed gloomy and dead became a picture of gladness and life.
At just the hint of light, hope enters. Open yourself up to the light of Jesus Christ and experience the fullness of the life and joy He has for you.
For you who have slipped back into the ways and paths of darkness, come back into the light of Jesus as He’s inviting you in from the cold.
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46 NKJV)
Jesus is the light of the world and He is the true light of Christmas, and He is offering to everyone this gift of light, which is nothing less than the light of life, eternal life.
So come in from out of the cold and out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.
