Light of the World Devotion
MSBC Family Christmas Program • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
1. The world is a dark place.
1. The world is a dark place.
You need to only turn on the news to see this reality.
War, rumors of wars, evil, murder, wickedness.
Engrossed in story of the CEO who was shot - people online who are praising the gunman.
The world is a dark place because WE CHOSE for it to be a dark place. We disobeyed in the Garden of Eden.
But God would not leave us without a light.
2. Jesus is the Only Light of the World.
2. Jesus is the Only Light of the World.
John calls Jesus “the Light” here.
It is not the only time Jesus is referred to as the Light.
12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
The Bible declares that Jesus is not only A light, but THE Light.
1) This light casts out darkness. “Darkness can not extinguish light, only light can extinguish darkness.”
Martin Luther King - “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
2) What does it mean that Jesus is the light? Light represents hope.
Go into a well lit room - you don’t have to hold out hope that you find a dark place - nobody is looking for a dark spot. But if you go into a place with no light at all - you are looking for the HOPE of the light.
Illustration - Linville Caverns - you are holding out HOPE that the light will come back on.
Jesus is the HOPE of all the nations.
21 The nations will put their hope in his name.
This is why we sing “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
3. As Christ’s followers, we are called to “reflect” His light to a dark world.
3. As Christ’s followers, we are called to “reflect” His light to a dark world.
We are not the source of the light, we are reflectors of the light.
You ever seen a lighthouse? It has bright lights. It is not the light itself that can be seen 10 miles away. It is the “reflector” which is a metal “mirror” that shines the light into the darkness.
Jesus is the source of the light - but we are called to be the reflectors of His light.
2 For look, darkness will cover the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and his glory will appear over you.
At this time we would like to symbolically think of us as a church as His “light reflectors.” The more “light reflectors” we have in a dark place the more the darkness is extinguished.
Grab your candle you were given as you walked in. As we start to sing this song our deacons will come and light the center aisles. Then we ask you to pass the light to your neighbors. This signifies you taking the Gospel light of Christ and sharing it with your neighbors. Then at the end of the song as we declare “I have seen the light” we will ask you to stand and join us in a final chorus of victory. After that we will dim all the lights and sing “Away in a Manger” as we end our service. May this be a reverent time.
