The Glowing Light of the Lord’s Presence

Sunday Morning, December 22

Text: “. . . and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were

filled with fear” (Luke 2:9 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:14–16; Luke 2:8–14

Offertory Prayer: Father in heaven, we are reminded at this time of the year of the greatness of your gift to us in the Christ child, who became our Savior and Lord. Today we would bow before him in awe and reverence. We would worship him as the wise men did. We come bringing gifts to indicate our love and our concern that the rest of the world will come to know about the good news of his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection, and his living presence today. Bless these gifts to that end. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Introduction

On the night of our Lord’s birth, the shekinah glory of the Lord appeared, and the shepherds were made ware of the presence of the eternal God in a unique and unprecedented manner.

1. If they were familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures, they would have recognized that this light that shone around them was a visible symbol of the presence of the invisible God.

a. We see them in the tradition of the men of faith throughout the Old Testament who responded to this manifestation of the presence of God with fear and awe.

1. What is the word shekinah?

Shechinah—a Chaldee word meaning resting-place, not found in Scripture, but used by the later Jews to designate the visible symbol of God’s presence in the tabernacle, and afterwards in Solomon’s temple. When the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he went before them “in a pillar of a cloud.” This was the symbol of his presence with his people. For references made to it during the wilderness wanderings, see Ex. 14:20; 40:34–38; Lev. 9:23, 24; Num. 14:10; 16:19, 42.

It is probable that after the entrance into Canaan this glory-cloud settled in the tabernacle upon the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. We have, however, no special reference to it till the consecration of the temple by Solomon, when it filled the whole house with its glory, so that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10–13; 2 Chr. 5:13, 14; 7:1–3). Probably it remained in the first temple in the holy of holies as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence so long as that temple stood. It afterwards disappeared. [1]

[1]M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 620–621.

I. The radiant light of the Lord’s presence.

Throughout the Old Testament our God is often pictured as the light that brings life and illumination for the path of life, enabling one to walk without falling.

1. God manifested himself to the Israelites as a radiant light:

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night” (Ex. 13:21 RSV).

2. To be able to travel at night without stumbling was an unprecedented experience for human beings.

a. This was made possible by the glory of the Lord that shone about them as a radiant light.

b. The children of Israel made their way through the wilderness by means of this radiant light of the Lord’s presence:

“The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people” (Exodus 13:22 RSV).

The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle when it was dedicated (Gen.

40:34).

II. Jesus Christ was the radiant light of the Lord’s presence in the

world (John 1:4–8).

A. This radiant light of the Lord’s glory was present at the birth of the Christ (Luke 2:9).

B. The radiant light of the Lord’s presence was manifested in the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36).

a. In this experience the deity of Jesus Christ shone through the veil of the flesh of his humanity.

C. The radiant light of the Lord’s presence accompanied the angels who announced the resurrection of the Christ.

D. The radiant light of the Lord’s presence was manifested when the gift of the Spirit was bestowed at Pentecost.

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them”

(Acts 2:3 RSV).

E. The glory of the Lord as a radiant light served to bring about the conversion

of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.

“Now as he journeyed, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed

about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him . . .” (Acts 9:3–4 RSV).

a. There can be no doubt that the memory of the glory of the Lord shining on the face of Stephen as he experienced execution by stoning was used as one of the goads to bring about conviction in the heart of this persecutor who was to become the great apostle Paul.

F. Satan spreads darkness in the world and in the heart to prevent this radiant light of the Lord’s presence from shining into the hearts and faces of the unsaved (2 Cor. 4:4).

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2Cor. 4:4

III. Believers are to be the glowing light of the Lord’s presence in the

world today.

The Living Bible paraphrases the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount like this:

“You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father”

(Matt. 5:14–16).

1. There is something very exciting about the followers of Christ being described as “a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see.”

a. This implies that we are to do more than to merely reflect light.

i. We are to let the living Christ, who dwells within us in Spirit, shine forth through our humanity so that an unbelieving world finds the pathway to God illuminated and made clear.

A. Paul speaks of the messengers who bring the benevolent gifts of Gentile converts to Jewish believers in Jerusalem as being “the glory of Christ” (2 Cor. 8:23 RSV).

a. If the glory of God is the visible symbol of the invisible God, then it follows that those who are generous in benevolent giving become “visible symbols of the invisible Christ.”

B. By means of good works that are helpful to others, we become the glowing light of the Lord’s presence in the world that attracts people to our God:

“Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all

to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father” (Matt. 5:15–16 TLB).

a. These good works are designed to glorify, or to “advertise” God. Jesus specifically declares that we must not do good works to glorify ourselves (6:1–4).

b. We have the privilege of being living, mobile symbols in the world today of the living God’s presence similar to the manner in which the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night symbolized God’s presence.

C. If we render works and ministries of mercy to “the least of these” in the name of Christ, then in a very real sense, we become the “glowing light of the Lord’s presence” to them.

D. When we practice genuine caring love for others, we give proof of our relationship to Christ and in a sense become his representatives in the world today (John 13:35).

Conclusion

We may be surprised to discover that in the world today we can be messengers of the Lord announcing, not only the birth, but the life, death, resurrection, and living presence of Jesus Christ.

a. It is possible for us to be the radiant light of the Lord’s presence by which others can come to know God today.

b. There are angels singing of Jesus’ birth today. If you have not let Him, come into your life, then listen to these songs and learn from them.

c. Let Jesus Christ come into your heart and home.

d. There are shepherds in the world today still telling the good news.

e. There are wise men and women who have already given him their hearts and treasures; and instead of becoming poor, they have become enriched beyond words by trusting him and giving themselves to him.

You would be wise to give yourself to this Christ.