Light for the Way - Christmas Day Message

John 1:9 NIV

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the Bible, light has always been a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace,

hope, and God’s revelation. Light is the nature and character of God. GOD is not just a light or a kind of light;

GOD is light itself. All light comes from Him. At the beginning of time, GOD created the light to dispel the

darkness and chaos over all the earth. How fitting it is for our infinite and omnipotent God, who does not

need the sun, moon, and stars to provide light, to simply call light into being.

The light of God that appeared over the manger where Christ was born, was what the shepherds were

following when they found Jesus, the Savior of the world, lying in a manger.

IT IS THAT SAME LIGHT THAT WE SING ABOUT WHEREVER AND WHENEVER WE SING:

Joyful, all you nations, rise. Jesus, the light of the world. Join the triumph of the skies. Jesus, the light of the world

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace. Jesus, the light of the world. Hail, the Sun of righteousness! Jesus, the light of the world.

We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light. Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright. Oh, shine all around us by day and by night. Jesus, the light of the world.

Hark! the herald angels sing. Jesus, the light of the world. Glory to the newborn King, Jesus, the light of the world.

ONE OF THE WISEST AND MOST POETIC OF THE PSALMS WRITTEN BY ASAPH RECALLS SOME OF THE MIRACLES OF

GOD AND AMONG THOSE MIRACLES IN 74th PSALM IS WRITTEN:

GOD 16 Day and night alike belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. 17 All nature is within your hands;

you make the summer and the winter too.

CHRIST’S LIGHT PROVIDES SAFETY

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery Light

Physical light retains its life-giving and protective qualities throughout the Bible, and the people who inhabit the biblical world, along with the writers who tell their story, are filled with a sense of reverential dependence on physical light. In such a world, light denotes safety

PERHAPS YOU remember the mom from the famous movie, Poltergeist, relentlessly instructing little Carol Anne

to run towards the light in order to save herself from ghosts.  In that situation, the light saved Carol Anne’s life, but

we all know Poltergeist is just a movie.

IT WAS IN THE BOOK OF JOB THAT WE READ, HEAR AND RECEIVE THE KNOWLEDGE WE EVENTUALLY LIVE INTO AND

OBSERVE ON MOST EVERY CRIME SHOW WE SEE ON TV....THERE IT READS JOB 24:16

Job 24:16 NIV

In the dark, thieves break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light.

“The light of Christ,” writes John Piper, “is the brightness of God shining on the retina of the human soul.” Life can be

wonderful on earth, but not fully complete without Jesus. We are all created to crave the Creator, our Father, and

only through a relationship with our Savior Jesus can the dark parts of our hearts brighten.

THE AUTHOR Colishia S. Benjamin GOES ON TO WRITE:

Jesus is the light of the world. His light shines through all darkness. His love heals all hatred. His grace and mercy forgives all sins. The anointing of his blood heals the sick and the lame. His guarding angels will forever protect you and his word will forever guide you.

THE ANGELS MADE SURE LIGHT ITSELF IS GOOD NEWS

BELOVEDS WE CAN’T LEAVE OUT THE ANGELS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIGHT THAT SHINES AT CHRISTMAS TIME....

UMC PASTOR & WRITER, REVEREND ADAM HAMILTON REMINDS US:

IN LUKE’S ACCOUNT OF THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS, SEVERAL NIGHT-SHIFT SHEPHERDS WERE WATCHING

THEIR SHEEP WHEN A STRANGER APPEARED AMONG THEM. THIS ALONE MAY HAVE FRIGHTENED THEM

THAT NIGHT, BUT LUKE TELLS US THERE WAS MORE: “THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM.”

WHAT DID THE SHEPHERDS SEE THAT NIGHT? LUKE DOESN’T GIVE US ANY MORE DETAIL, AND SOME WOULD

SAY EVEN ASKING THIS QUESTION IS TAKING THE STORY A BIT TOO LITERALLY — THAT THE MENTION OF THE

“GLORY OF THE LORD” IS LUKE’S WAY OF TELLING US THAT GOD’S GLORY WAS BEING REVEALED IN THE

BIRTH OF JESUS. WHETHER A BRIGHT LIGHT SHINED FROM HEAVEN, OR THE MOON BURNED PARTICULARLY

BRIGHTLY, OR THE STRANGER REFLECTED LIGHT, WE CANNOT TELL FROM THE TEXT: AND IT ISN’T LUKE’S

POINT TO HAVE US FOCUS ON THIS. LUKE WANTS US TO NOTICE THE WORDS OF THE STRANGER: “I AM

BRINGING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE: TO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF

DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS THE MESSIAH, THE LORD.”

TODAY, AND RIGHT NOW, JESUS’ BIRTH IS STILL GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY. WHY? BECAUSE HE IS “A SAVIOR,

WHO IS THE MESSIAH, THE LORD.”

-CHRIST’S LIGHT MAKES A WAY THROUGH OUR PRESENT DARKNESS

-CHRIST’S LIGHT GIVES US WARMTH EVEN IN THE COLDNESS OF OUR WORLD

-CHRIST’S LIGHT IS THE ILLUMINATION NOT JUST OF DARK PLACES BUT ALSO OF CONSCIENCE, AND OUR DESIRES

TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST WE ALL KNOW SO WELL....

WE CELEBRATE THE TRUTH OF THE LIGHT THAT SHINED ON SIMEON SO HE COULD PROPHESY JESUS’ BIRTH AS

RECORDED IN LUKE 2:30-32

Luke 2:30–32 NRSV

for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

CONCLUSION

I CLOSE THIS CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH THE PROMISE OF MORE CHRIST LIGHT TO COME IN PART 2 OF THIS 2-

PART SERIES ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST........I CLOSE WITH THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE LITTLE THINGS....FOR

JUST AS JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD AS A LITTLE BABY......IT’S SOMETIMES THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO THAT

LEND LIGHT TO OUR BEST, MOST HOPEFUL, MOST HONEST AND MOST POWERFUL INTENTIONS & HOPES.......

THIS CHRISTMAS DAY, DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS…THE BLESSINGS OF THE LITTLE THINGS.....

ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN PREACHERS WHO’S NOW GONE ON HOME TO LIVE WITH GOD....THE REV DR

PETER GOMES SHED A GLORIOUS LIGHT ON THE LITTLE THINGS THIS WAY:

WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD DEMONSTRATED IN A CORRUPT AND DEMONIC

WORLD, THERE YOU WILL FIND GOD WORKING OUT HIS PURPOSE BY THE ORDINARY MEANS OF FLESH AND

BLOOD. THOUGH THOU ART SMALL LITTLE BETHLEHEM, OUR HOPES RESIDE IN THEE.

SO, ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE STILLED BY THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD’S GREAT LOVE

TOWARD US, WE ARE REMINDED THAT THE GREATNESS OF GOD IS SEEN IN THE WONDER BOTH OF THE

ORDINARY AND OF THE SMALL; THE MIRACLE OF GOD, HIS DIVINE ECONOMY, IS THAT HE CAN MAKE MUCH

OF NOTHING AND SOMETHING OF ALMOST ANYTHING. A LITTLE TOWN BECOMES THE FOCUS OF THE

WORLD’S LAST BEST HOPE; A LITTLE BABY COMES TO OPPOSE THE FORCES OF CAESAR AND FEAR; AND

HUMAN FLESH AND HUMAN LIFE ARE DIGNIFIED AND MADE WHOLE AS NEVER BEFORE. THE TEST OF GOD’S

POWER IS NOT IN HIS CAPACITY TO MOVE MOUNTAINS AND OUTMANEUVER THE PHENOMENA OF NATURE,

OR IN HIS POWER TO PERFORM TRICKS OR REBUKE NATURE; GOD’S POWER IS IN HIS CAPACITY TO SHINE

LIGHT ON AND MAKE MUCH OF LITTLE, FOR THAT IS WHAT GOD DOES IN CREATION, THAT IS WHAT GOD

DOES

AT CHRISTMAS, AND THAT IS WHAT GOD DOES WITH US, IF ONLY WE WILL LET HIM.....

SO THIS CHRISTMAS MAY ALL THE BEST BE YOURS....AS YOU LET GOD....

MAY THE LIGHT MEANT FOR YOU, MEANT TO SHINE ON YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DARKNESS SHINE BRIGHTLY....AS

YOU LET GOD.......

MAY THE GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN BE ENOUGH AND MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR YOU AND YOURS.....AS YOU LET

GOD.....

I INVITE YOU TO RAISE AND OPEN YOUR HANDS TO RECEIVE AS I PRAY THIS MARVELOUS PRAYER TO CLOSE:

James Dillet Freeman’s Prayer for God’s Protection

The Light of God surrounds us.

The Love of God enfolds us.

The Power of God protects us.

The Presence of God watches over us.

The Mind of God guides us.

The Life of God flows through us.

The Power of God abides in us.

The Joy of God uplifts us.

The Strength of God renews us.

The Beauty of God inspires us.

Wherever we are, God Is, and all is well!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TODAY, BELOVEDS.....AND AS YOU LET GOD TODAY.....MAY THIS DAY SHINE IN YOUR HEART AS

EXTRA SPECIAL.....AMEN...