Christmas Eve 2022: The Light of The World
Christmas Eve 2022: The Light of The World
Light of the world, treasure of Heaven
Brilliant like the stars, in the wintery sky
Joy of the Father, reach through the darkness
Shine across the earth, send the shadows to flight
The Bible begins this way… “1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
• God is present in empty. With God, empty is an illusion.
• God lights up dark places. With God, darkness has a short shelf life.
Why are we so afraid of the dark? Darkness carries with it a unique “dissing” presence.
• It disguises
• It disorients
• It dissuades
• It discourages
On the other hand, Light…
• Reveals
• Orients
• Persuades
• Encourages
John 1:1-4, 9-14 - “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 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus comes to us full grace and Truth.
What does grace do? Grace Saves.
What does Truth do? Truth frees.
Grace saves. Truth frees.
John 3:16-19 “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
God’s honest Truth to us this Christmas…
• God is present in empty. With God, empty is an illusion.
• God lights up dark places. With God, Darkness has a short shelf life.
• God’s light is eternal in Christ. No matter what light we try to create on our own it can’t match the impact or longevity of the light of God in Christ.