What is the point of Christmas? - Came to Shine

Sermon Introduction:

Over the last two weeks we have been addressing a very important question - What is the point of Christmas? It is not a surprise to any of us that this time of the year can bring up a number of different emotions - both good and bad, tensions, reminders of loss, memories that bring great joy, unmet dreams and expectations, a church service and business of shopping.

So, what is the point of Christmas?

In the first week I shared the first idea of why Christmas matters - He (Jesus) came to SAVE! - The incarnation (Immanuel - God with Us)

In week two, I shared the second idea of why Christmas matters - He came to GIVE! He came to give of His presence and life - this should compel us to Worship Him!

Today, I want to address that important question - What is the point of Christmas? By sharing that He came to Shine!

Walking in the fields at night in the darkness

Stumbling

Desperate for a little bit of light

Lights go out in the worship center

Light Candle

1. The Promise of Light: Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 (NLT)

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…

The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine…

For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace

will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David

for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

Isaiah begins this prophecy stating that amid spiritual darkness, the blackness that plagued Israel and continues to effect us today, is pierced by the light of God’s salvation. This promise is later fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah, Jesus - 700 years between this prophecy and the birth of Christ.

Our Divine King has come, bringing light to the dark places and establishing an eternal kingdom.

Light Candle

2. The Overcoming Light:

John 1:1–5 NLT “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John begins his account of Christ bringing significant emphasis to preeminent place of Christ from the beginning of time. He states that all creation comes through Christ and that this Christ is life—and light. “Darkness has not been able to extinguish it or overcome it.” Christ is invincible. His influence and power—his light—is irresistible.

“Jesus brought light to us when he came in the flesh—full of grace and truth.”

Light Candle

3. The Light of God’s Glory:

Luke 2:8–11 NLT “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

Luke shows us that common people—like lowly shepherds—were included in the story of the birth as they were overwhelmed by the light of God’s glory as it appeared to them in the person of the angel and the glorious sky above. By the word of the angel and the praise of the heavenly host, the light of God’s glory confirmed to all that these sheep herders were given the greatest announcement - the birth of the Messiah. The light of God’s glory was the exclamation point of the message of the birth of Christ. It propelled these simple followers to obedience and worship. The piercing of the light of God’s glory into our lives leads us in the same way—to obedience and worship.

“God chooses the lowly to show that in light of his holiness, Jesus Christ is savior to all kinds of people.”

Light Candle

4. The Guiding Light:

Matthew 2:1–2 NLT “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

Matthew’s account of the birth of the Savior describes the role that the star’s light had in leading the Magi to the young Jesus. The leading light and worship go hand in hand as these pagan religious leaders recognize the place of this child-king. They bow before him. Give gifts to him. They honor him. The guiding light of God led the Magi to the Christ child—the same light that leads all people to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, the one who deserves our worship.

“God’s glorious light leads people to recognize Jesus as the Christ.”

Light Candle

5. God Is Light:

1 John 1:5–10 NLT “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

John underscores who God is—pure, holy, light! “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is not darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). There is nothing unclear about John’s statement about God. The Lord dwells in light. John is telling followers of Christ that since God is light and that they claim to be followers of that light, then they are to act like light and not live lives of darkness. When his followers live in the light, this light purifies them from their sins. This light, who is God, enables us to live lives that honor him—and when we sin, we can experience cleansing from the God who is light.

“God is light and we are to live lives that reflect that light.”

Light Candle

6. Jesus Is the Light of the World:

John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus makes the audacious statement, “I am the light of the world.” (John 9:12). Here, Jesus claims who he is—Lord—and his mission. He is the Lord and when one recognizes—follows this Lord—one will not be in spiritual darkness (death) but will have eternal life.

This Christ who was born in Bethlehem’s manger was the fulfillment of the predicted light of the prophets.

The focal point of the guiding star

Is the Light who is God.

In him we have hope in darkness.

In him we have life because of the light he brought to this world.

“Because Jesus is the light of the world we don’t have to live in darkness anymore.”

Conclusion

Christmas light shines on us every day, not just in December. The reminders from the Prophets, the truth of the Gospel narratives, and the Epistles bring great emphasis to the light of salvation that is ours.

Prayer Response

You may be feeling like you are stumbling in life because you are surrounded by darkness. You are finding it difficult to find “that thing” that will fill the hole that is in your heart.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

Jesus came to save you!

Jesus came to give His life, so that we can experience life!

Jesus came to shine, so that you would no longer walk in darkness.

Today is your day to say YES to King Jesus! Surrendering your life to Him. Making Him the King, Savior, and friend.