“The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.” –John 1:9
I often take a few days off just before Thanksgiving. I spend some of that time decorating the outside of the house and putting up our Christmas lights. I love to hang the lights on the house, wrap them around our trees, and set out the decorations we have accumulated over the years. Somehow, in the middle of winter, with brown grass and leafless trees, our house seems more alive than any other time of the year.
In John’s Gospel, he often refers to Jesus as “The true light.” John recognized that the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem ushered in the light of heaven. No longer would the world be separated from God’s presence. In Jesus, the world would now see what true love looks like. The light was coming to pierce the darkness of sin, selfishness, and hopelessness. In Christ, we experience a closeness to God. The people of Jesus’ time only knew how to connect with God through their prescribed acts of worship, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem. Now God has come to all, in all the world’s places. No longer was God restricted by geography, national origins, or religious locations. In Christ, the world was now illuminated by the True Light.
We light our Christmas trees, our wreaths, our houses, yards, and even our candles in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve, not simply because it is pretty, but because it reminds us of the hope of God arriving in Christ. Through the birth of Jesus, light begins to shine in the dark, and hope finds a place in our lives.
Our world needs to experience the true light that comes in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Hope is greater than any obstacle we have experienced in this past year. Light breaks through the darkness of our despair and brings hope. This Advent season, I encourage you to take time to plug in as many lights as possible. We have been given the gift of the light of heaven. Let us light our candles, plug in our trees, and tell our neighbors about the great gift of love and light we have in the birth of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
