The Light of Christmas
The Light of Christmas
Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, www.pastorlife.com
Introduction
John 1:1-9 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 n Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
Christmas is a time of bright lights and celebration for Christians all over the world, and it all began when the Light of the World was delivered by Mary, with Joseph by her side, in Bethlehem just over 2,000 years ago.
We read in Matthew 2:9-11 about the Wise Men and the brilliant, shining star they observed;
“When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
In fact, we can go back to the Old Testament and read about the promised Light. Isaiah 9:2 contains this prophecy:
“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.”
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, I want to share a few things about the light, and why the scripture uses this term to describe the Redeemer, the Savior, The Lord of glory who came to redeem us from our sins.
I. The Light Problem
On the night the star appeared over Bethlehem, the world lay in great darkness. Sadly, so much of the world still in the darkness of the time before Jesus came. The Light, Jesus, came into the world but the world at large did not perceive it or receive it. In fact, the world still has a tremendous “Light” problem. The Darkness of sin clouds the minds and hearts of people in every generation and we can certainly see that fact in our present time.
There are several kinds of darkness in this world.
A. Moral Darkness
We look at our world today and we see the horrible things people do to one another. Shootings have become common place in our day. When I was a boy growing up in the North Carolina, every young boy had a gun, and many had multiple guns. Shotguns, rifles and pistols were commonplace. Some guys drove around with a shotgun fixed to a rack on the back glass of their trucks. Yet, I don’t remember a single person every being shot in those days. Not one! You see, the problem is not the gun; the problem is in the darkened hearts of people in our world today.
Just think of the horrors experienced by the Jewish people on October 7 of this year (2023). Torture, raper, murder and, for many, captivity was exacted upon childern, women and men by Hamas terrorists. Almost all those suffering at the hands of the terrorists were not related to the military in any way. They were simply Jewish citizens living out their normal lives. That is the world we are in - a world often in darkness and evil.
When Jesus came into the world, darkness was everywhere in the hearts of people. Rome used awful brutality to control every part of ancient society. The government in Jerusalem was horrendous. When the king sent the Wise Men to search for Jesus, he did it so that he might find the baby said to have been born as a king and to kill him. That one part of this story tells you how dark the moral world was then – and, believe me, it is no better today.
Immoral behavior is no worse now and it is no better either. We are a sinful people and that is exactly why the Light of the World came – He came to deliver us from our own demons – our own moral darkness.
But, note also not just the moral darkness but also the …
B. Mind Darkness
You read the story of Jesus’ birth and right in the middle of the story is the mention of Wise Men. Interesting, isn’t it? Today there are many people who are considered wise who nevertheless have no room for Jesus. Actually, the mind of man in its natural state is opposed to God and not for Him.
Listen to Proverbs 3:7:
“Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Just as in the days of old, people tend to think they are a lot smarter than they really are. Real wisdom comes from fearing (respecting) God and seeking to live in the way He directs.
Our text from John 1 today tells us that the Light came into the world, but the world did not comprehend it. It is not that they didn't believe it, they actually could not comprehend it. Their minds were shut out to such a thought. He came to His own and they did not receive Him. Sadly, people all over the world continue to reject the Light of the World, Jesus the Lord. It is because their minds are in darkness and they refuse to allow the Light, Jesus Christ, to enter.
We've looked at the Ligth Problem, now think with me about …
II. The Light Purpose
Note in verse 4 of John chapter 1 that the Light which came into the world arrived to bring Life. “In Him was life…” The purpose of the arrival of Jesus was to give people life and that more abundantly. We read in John 10:10 these words:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
People think of abundance as being wrapped up in the things they possess, but Jesus came to reveal to us that abundance is found in knowing the divine purpose for your existence. The Light came that we might see our need, see God's love, and accept Jesus into our darkness.
One of the greatest questions in history has been this: Why am I here on this earth?
Listen carefully.
God Made You.
Sin Marred You.
Jesus Makes You New.
Christ came to give you the life sin has stolen from you. He came to bring light into the dark world, in which we all live, because He is the only true Light for this world.
Think about what John 10:10 said:
Jesus came to give you Life
Jesus came to give you Life more Abundantly
A. Life in Jesus
First, we need to know that without Jesus we are dead in our sins. When Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, he reminded them that they were once DEAD in their sins. While in sin, and without the Savior, we are dead toward God and cannot possibly know what real life is about. Jesus came with the purpose to give life to those who turned to Him in repentance and faith. Romans 6:23 states:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
You see, sin brought death, but Jesus came to bring life. Again, our text from John tells us that in Jesus was life, thus we can say that outside Jesus there is death.
B. Life Abundant in Jesus
Secondly, Jesus came not only to forgive us of sin and to give us eternal life, but He came also to give us life more abundant. What does that mean? It means that He came to give purpose to our lives and meaning to our existence. He didn’t come merely to get us to heaven, but He came also to place some heaven into us in the here and now.
Living for Jesus is the best life there is. Christians know what I’m talking about, for they are living it each day. I’m not saying that the Christian life is free of trouble and problems – certainly we live in the same world as those who reject Jesus. Yet, the Christian knows that Romans 8:28 is true. God does work all things together for good in the lives of those who love Him and seek to live for His purpose. Jesus can and does give meaning and purpose, even in the toughest of times.
To live without Christ, is to endure this difficult world and go out into a domain even worse. To know Jesus, is to find purpose in all things during this life and to go out into a world where there are no tears, no separation, no mourning, and no death. No wonder the Bible refers to Jesus as the Light of the World. He is the Light of this world and the eternal Light in the world to come.
So, Christmas is not simply a time to create some bright lights in our houses and yards during the cold, dark winter months. Christmas is about lighting hearts and minds in the cold, dark world in which we live.
Now, think of one more thing …
III. The Light Person
The Bible says that “HE” came. The Light of the World is a person and not simply a moral standard. The Light is not merely a set of rules to follow. Being a Christian is not about turning over a new leaf, it is about discovering the new Life and Light found only in Jesus.
Jesus came because He wanted to meet with us, talk to us, comfort us, forgive us and live in us. Knowing Jesus means knowing Jesus as a person and not just discovering some abstract religious idea and a higher moral standard.
Every Christmas the lights I see remindsof the Person who is the Light of the world. Christmas is about the Person who came from heaven to bring us the gift of eternal life.
We share gifts at Christmas, and it can be a difficult time for some people. Money is short, but parents desire to give the best gifts to their children. Relatives and friends take joy in sharing something personal as a gift at Christmastime. People often go in debt in order to buy that gift they know is desired or deserved by someone they love.
Let me remind you that no gift ever given cost as much and required so great a sacrifice as the gift of God in Christ. His birth was such a beautiful event, and our celebration of it is such a bright annual event, however let us not forget that Jesus was born to die. He came to His own, we are told in scripture, His own received Him not. He was crucified outside Jerusalem on a cruel cross for our sins. He took our place. That is the greatest gift of all.
Conclusion
A man was asked by a friend, "How do you know that you are saved?" The Christian answered with a smile, "Because I was there when it happened." If you've never had that experience, today is your day to receive the Gift of God - eternal life through Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World. If you've never trusted Jesus as your Savior, now is the time to come to Him. He loves you so much. He came to this sin-cursed earth for you. He lived without a place to lay his head. He was hated and eventually hunted down by authorities so that they might put Him to death. He didn’t have to die. He had the power to destroy them, but He allowed them to place Him on the cross for your sins and mine. Come to Him today. It is the greatest gift you will ever receive, for it is an eternal gift.
Also, let those of us who are saved come in fresh joy to make a new commitment to One who saved us. Like the Wise Men who followed His Light – His Star – come this morning and renew your commitment to the Light of the world.