John 1 6-8 19-28 (2)
Advent 3
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Children’s Advent Service
December 15, 2002
“The Traditions of Christmas”*
(Bearing Witness to the Light) an ABS devotion.
Introduction: Lighted church – In a small English town it was the tradition that at evening vespers the pastor would light a candle as each family of the parish entered to worship. Naturally, the more families worshiping, the more candlelight there was in the church. The more the children of God let their light of faith shine in this dark world, the more light of the gospel there will be. We, as Christians, are light bearers, bearing witness to Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message, which can disperse the darkness of the world, a world that is darkened with the shadows of war, poverty and sin. There is no darkness, which can overcome His light.
In the United States, we are blessed with peace. Though we have personal trials and hardships, we do not suffer from the ravages of war. This is not the case in other parts of the world. Even as we worship here today wars are raging in many countries of the world. People are driven from their homes, persecuted and killed by ruthless dictators. In many countries of the world Christians are being tortured and martyred because of the light of their faith in Christ.
The evangelist St. John understood darkness and persecution. He also knew the remedy – the only true answer for what troubles the world’s people. He taught us that Jesus Christ is the life and light of the world. The world came into existence through Him. After humankind fell into spiritual darkness, He provided the light to lighten our path back to God.
Although the light God has provided is clearly seen in this world, God knows that we are stubborn people. We prefer to walk around blind to the light that He has given. For this reason God has sent messengers to bear witness to His light. John the Baptist was one of His messengers. He was the first person to point to Jesus as the light of the world.
John directed people to look at the light of God’s truth. His truth is this - that we should, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Through John the Baptist’s witness we are called to believe in Christ and to be delivered out of the darkness of the world into Christ’s marvelous light.
Conclusion: You and I are not the Light. We only bear witness to His light. Our traditions in which we celebrate Christmas are not the light but they too point to the one who is. Jesus is the light, the world’s light, which shines in this present darkness with a light no darkness can overcome. Not even the darkness of sin, the pain of persecution or the terrors of death can overcome this glorious light that is Jesus. He has been shinning on creation from the beginning. Since the first day when darkness entered into our world He has stood as the light that would redeem the world from sin and death. His light over came the dark on the night of His glorious incarnation and birth in a Bethlehem manger. His light broke through the shadows on a dark Friday afternoon when He was crucified. His glorious light burst forth from the darkness of His grave. Today our children are bearing witness to the light just as John the Baptist did. God is using them to point to Jesus so that we might believe and trust in our Savior all the more. That is what Christmas traditions are all about, as they point to Jesus, our Savior, and the light of the world.