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.’”
—Application:
?Is my Christmas Light one of RE-BIRTH?
—CONCLUSION—
Let’s make our Christmas plans in the Light...the Light of Life in Jesus Christ.
—Action:
What is the Light of YOUR Christmas?...
The Light of Christmas is the Light of...
LIFE
INTENTION
COMPULSION
PRESENCE
CONTRAST/RECOGNITION
SEIZURE/GRASP
WITNESS
TRUST
IDENTITY
TRUTH
ENLIGHTENMENT
KNOWLEDGE
REJECTION
RECEPTION
RIGHT
THE NAME
RE-BIRTH
CHILDREN’S— ‘In the Light’
Package individual cupcakes with icing/sprinkles etc. & a candle.
A ‘You are Special’ plate.
Take a cupcake & place in the Special Plate.
Ask the children what is special about a birthday.
Insert the candle & light it.
Ask them to describe light.
Presented 12/24/00am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
