THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

TEXT- JOHN 1:4-13

INTRODUCTION

ALMOST EVERY WHERE YOU GO DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU FIND BRIGHTLY COLORED LIGHTS DECORATING HOUSES, YARDS, STORES, STREETS AND CHRISTMAS TREES.

WHILE THIS PART OF CHRISTMAS HAS BECOME VERY COMMERCIALIZED, AND HAS GREATLY PLEASED THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS SHOULD REMIND US OF "THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" THAT WAS BORN NEARLY 2000 YEARS AGO.

JOHN 9:5, "WHILE I AM IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

A LITTLE BOY WAS IN A CHRISTMAS PLAY AT CHURCH AND HE FORGOT HIS LINES. HIS MOTHER IN THE FRONT ROW GOT HIS ATTENTION AND BEGAN TO SILENTLY FORMED THE WORDS WITH HER LIPS, BUT IT DID NOT HELP. HER SON'S MEMORY WAS BLANK. FINALLY SHE LEANED FORWARD AND WHISPERED THE CUE, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." IMMEDIATELY THE CHILD'S FACE LIT UP AND WITH GREAT EMPHASIS IN A LOUD, CLEAR VOICE SAID, "MY MOTHER IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

THIS EVENING THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS" AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 1:4-13.

THE WORD "LIGHT" IS USED TO REFER TO JESUS SIX TIMES IN OUR TEXT.

AS WE EXAMINE THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THREE WAYS WE NEED TO RESPOND TO JESUS, THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS.