Christmas is a wonderful time of year for several reasons. I especially enjoy seeing the display of lights that become part of the landscape in our towns and cities.
Light is one of the main components of life itself that we most often take for granted. We often travel to our hunting stands in the darkness of early morning, using a flashlight so we can be ready for the animal activity that morning light will bring. If you’ve hunted much at all, you no doubt have been frustrated by the movement of that buck or bear which occurs only in the darkness of night. Bowhunters depend on light and witness some of the best of it in early sunrises and late sunsets.
God knew all about our need and use of light from the beginning. Genesis 1:3-5 tells us that the first act of creation was the making of light and separating it from darkness. All of nature needs light in one form or another.
Well, the Christmas story is all about light and darkness, also. And that is how the Gospel of John records it. (Read John 1:1-14) John presents the Christmas story to us from the top down instead of the bottom up like Matthew and Luke. The Christ of creation came to us as the light of life. (v.4) Jesus came into the world like every other man to give everyone hope in the midst of darkness. He dwelt among us, John says, to show us the glory (light) of God. (v.14) God the Father knew it was “spiritual light” we would need to show us the way in a cursed, sinful world. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” He, the divine Son of God, came into a dark world to show us the way to his home in heaven. What a gracious act of kindness.
John uses the word, Word, because it expresses the essence of God speaking to us through Christ Jesus who dwelt among us. The Word is light. The Word is hope. The Word is here with us. What wonderful news. Our reception of and belief in this news gives us a seat at God’s heavenly table as a son. (v.12)
And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21; “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11; “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” John1:4; these all tell the same story, the story of Christmas.
Jesus, the Christ, came as light to this world to dispel the darkness of sin in our lives. Have you beheld his glory? Have you believed this truth? Have you received his grace?
David L. Roose
Light is one of the main components of life itself that we most often take for granted. We often travel to our hunting stands in the darkness of early morning, using a flashlight so we can be ready for the animal activity that morning light will bring. If you’ve hunted much at all, you no doubt have been frustrated by the movement of that buck or bear which occurs only in the darkness of night. Bowhunters depend on light and witness some of the best of it in early sunrises and late sunsets.
God knew all about our need and use of light from the beginning. Genesis 1:3-5 tells us that the first act of creation was the making of light and separating it from darkness. All of nature needs light in one form or another.
Well, the Christmas story is all about light and darkness, also. And that is how the Gospel of John records it. (Read John 1:1-14) John presents the Christmas story to us from the top down instead of the bottom up like Matthew and Luke. The Christ of creation came to us as the light of life. (v.4) Jesus came into the world like every other man to give everyone hope in the midst of darkness. He dwelt among us, John says, to show us the glory (light) of God. (v.14) God the Father knew it was “spiritual light” we would need to show us the way in a cursed, sinful world. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” He, the divine Son of God, came into a dark world to show us the way to his home in heaven. What a gracious act of kindness.
John uses the word, Word, because it expresses the essence of God speaking to us through Christ Jesus who dwelt among us. The Word is light. The Word is hope. The Word is here with us. What wonderful news. Our reception of and belief in this news gives us a seat at God’s heavenly table as a son. (v.12)
And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21; “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11; “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” John1:4; these all tell the same story, the story of Christmas.
Jesus, the Christ, came as light to this world to dispel the darkness of sin in our lives. Have you beheld his glory? Have you believed this truth? Have you received his grace?
David L. Roose
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