The light of Christmas

OPINION

Would it be Christmas without lights? We decorate our trees and our houses with lights, and yes, maybe even fences and farm tractors! After sunset we tour neighborhoods admiring the brilliant colors, the soft glows, and festive scenes festooned with lights.

2020 has been a darker year than most in recent memory with COVID-19, social unrest and a contentious political season. So in the dark of winter, these lights are very welcome.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, The Light of the World. A star signaled His birth to Eastern Magi.

Matthew 2:1-2; 9-11 says, “Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 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.’

… the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

As Jesus’ earthly ministry was inaugurated, Matthew explains, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.†Matthew 4:16

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

This Christmas (and all year long too) welcome The Light of the World into your life. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.†1 John 1:7