December 03, 2017
This post is part of a series of Christmas Devotionals by Dr. John Neihof, president of Wesley Biblical Seminary. You can find all of the devotionals by clicking here.
Scripture passages: John 1:1-5, 8:12, Genesis 1:1-5, Luke 2:8-15, Matthew 1:1-11
Why do we have lights at Christmas? I think that it’s because of the lights of that first Christmas when Jesus entered the world. Heaven shone the light of the angels upon the shepherds. Eternal Father positioned the star whose light led the wise men from the East to the house where the Christ child’s family stayed. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and the lights celebrate His arrival to a sin darkened planet.
It’s interesting to observe the secularization of Christ’s birthday. I remember a book someone wrote a few years ago titled, “The War on Christmas.” They author described the symbols of our Lord’s birth that are no longer politically correct, and that are being cast aside in an attempt to remove Jesus from our lives. But in spite of all the anti-Christmas and anti-Christ rhetoric, Christmas fighters have not mentioned or attempted to ban one of the most important religious symbols of the season. It’s the lights! Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
“In the beginning was the Word.” Jesus’ creative word called this world into existence out of nothing, proclaiming, “Let there be light!” Sometime ago I read that of the 800,000 words in the English language an average person knows 10,000 words and uses 5,000 per day. Jesus spoke the creative word, and worlds came into existence. Only God can do that, and He did.
Even the godless have to reckon with His reality. Near the end of his life, the godless philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, told someone: “I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God.”
From the beginning of time, Triune God was consumed with Light. God lives in Light. God’s first Word of creation was light, and I along with Apostle John recognize Him as the Light. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Light has conquered darkness! Light conquered darkness in Creation. Light conquers the darkness of sinful culture from the first century to today.
Jesus, Light of the world, is our victory over darkness. That’s why we have lights at Christmas. Jesus is the Light of Salvation. Jesus is the Light of the World.
“Light my world this Christmas. Help me to reflect Your Light to another.”