The Gift of the Light

 

As the Light of Day rises, the world awakes for a new day with new beginnings and new hope. As the sun rises, nature comes alive with the sound of birds singing and the rustling of all life awakening. From the darkness of night, the Light of Day gives new hope with new beginnings in the day to come.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

And the light shines in the darkness 

And the darkness comprehends it not.

John 1:4,5

John describes Jesus as the Light, the Creator, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God. Matthew and Luke begin the life of Jesus as the baby in a manger. Mark starts with John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Then, we have the gospel of John. John begins with the reason God sent his Son. 

Jesus came to give life. Yet, they did not understand. They expected a majestic king but got a baby born in a simple manger. They expected a ruler leading them to defeat their enemies but got a humble man teaching the way to God and healing bodies and souls. In their dark souls, they did not understand the purpose of this teacher and healer. 

That was the true light, which lights every man that comes into the world.

He was in the world, and that world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God,

Even to them that believes on his name.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

As the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

John 1: 9-14

Now, here we are today. We have the gospel. We have the recorded account of Jesus' birth, the escape to Egypt, the trip to Jerusalem when he came of age, his baptism, humble ministry, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. We celebrate his birth and resurrection. Yet do we get the message between the events we celebrate? He came to show us how to be the Light of the World. The Light to lead others to Him. He gave us the Light to give light to this dark world.

The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, 

Which takes away the sins of the world."

John 1:29

John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God. For centuries, they sacrificed the perfect lambs as a sacrifice for their sins. The teacher and healer was their perfect sacrificial lamb - the Son of God. Yet they did not understand. How many of us today do not get it? We go to church every week. Some of us go on short term mission trips. Yet, do we get it? Jesus came as the Light of the World, and he places the Light in us to continue His work. 

And John bare record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, 

and it abode on him. I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, 

the same said to me, 'Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, 

and remaining on him, the same is he which baptize with the Holy Ghost.' 

I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God."

John 1:32-34

As believers in God, we receive the Holy Spirit - God in us. Before John shares the ministry of Jesus, he shares how we become the Light which will draw others to God. This is the Christmas story - the reason for this season of gifts. This gift is the gift of salvation through the Son of God and the gift of the Light which will lead the world around us to the God.