Christmas lights are everywhere! Each light is a brilliant reminder of the Light that came from heaven. Jesus truly was the light of the world while He was here. And He gave you His light! Now, you are the light of the world!! He has risen over you. Jesus’ glory rests on you and shines through your life.
God Told Isaiah: A great light is coming.
Over 2,700 years ago, a prophet named Isaiah wrote a prophecy about a great light that was coming into the world to save mankind. God told Isaiah:
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
Isaiah 9:2 NASB
And that light will rise upon you.
Isaiah 6:1-3 NIV:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
A great light in the heavens announced Jesus’ arrival.
Before Jesus was born, a great star appeared in the heavens, declaring that he was coming. Isaiah’s 700-year-old prophecy came to pass. The Light of the World had come into the world as a human baby.
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem … wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
they departed [Jerusalem]; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 NIV
John the Baptist testified that the light was coming.
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
John 1:7 NIV
Jesus came as light which pushes back the darkness.
The Word [Jesus] gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:4-5 NLT
Jesus’ radiant glory was revealed.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and climbed a high mountain to pray. As he prayed, his face began to glow until a blinding glory streamed from him. A radiant glory illuminated his entire body. His brightness became so intense that it made his clothing blinding white, as multiple flashes of lightning.
All at once, two men appeared in glorious splendor: Moses and Elijah. They spoke with Jesus...
Luke 9:29-31
And when he was crucified, the world went dark. The Light of the World was dying.
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
… Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.
At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27:4546, 50-54 NLT
Satan thought the light had been snuffed out, but you and I know that Jesus rose again because death couldn’t hold him. Death is only for those who sin. And Jesus never did. God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice of His life as payment for the sins of all mankind.
All who believe in Jesus are saved and they become the light of the world.
Instead of one light, Jesus radiates through each of us who have faith in the Son of God.
Talking to believers, Jesus said: “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. … Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 AMP
Activation:
Every time you see a Christmas light, think of the true Light of the world. And carry His Light to others this Christmas. Be the Light of the World to your family, friends and coworkers.
Peter wrote: “you can show others the goodness of God, for he [Jesus] called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Show others the goodness of God. Demonstrate godliness in all you say and do. Do good deeds that will bring Glory and honor to Jesus this Christmas.
Expect important people to be drawn to the light of Christ in you.
As Isaiah wrote:
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60:2-3 NIV