A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

John 1:1-18

There are many cheerful lights on at this time of year – they relieve the gloom. Jesus us described as the light of the world.

The world needs light.
It needs physical light. People need spiritual light, we do not understand spiritual truth. We do not think we are ignorant, we think we have knowledge and understanding but many basic things elude us, family breakdown and war abound as does terrorism and we cannot solve any of them. This is darkness – fear and misery. Just over 100 years ago missionaries went to Africa and called it Darkest Africa, it was full of superstition. In Darkest England and the way out by William Booth of the Salvation Army, Booth says that the way out of poverty was salvation, not soup or soap.
God is light.
God dwells in unapproachable light. Light stands for wisdom and understanding. Ephesus was a city of ignorance and superstition. People lived in darkness. When saved they lived in light and turned away from ignorance.
There was a witness to the true light – verse 6
John the Baptist told people about the light, he called attention to the Son of God and told people to believe in him.
There is only one true light – verses 8 and 9
People have been enlightened by some religious leaders but Jesus is the only true light. He personified God – see John 8, he said he was the light of the world. Jesus brought kindness and love into the world, he showed us how we can come to God, the only way is by faith in him.
The light was rejected – verses 10 to 11
He came to his own people and he was rejected. He controlled nature, he healed people, he raised people from the dead, he preached to people and defeated the work of Satan. People had been looking for him, when he came they did not recognize him. Jews still look for a messiah but he has come. The light came and they switched it off.
The light was received by some – verses 12 and 13.
Some believed and were changed. We came into the world by being born. We come into God’s family by being born again, by receiving the Lord Jesus and his teaching by faith. He rescues people by calling them out of darkness. If we have believed we have peace with God and grow in faith like a baby does.
The light is wonderful – verse 14.
He was full of grace and truth. John saw the glory of God in the Lord Jesus. When people needed help he helped them, when sick he healed them, when hungry he fed them, when ignorant he taught them. This was the glory of God who cared for them. Do we have cares and needs? we should go to him or are we so proud and ‘wise’ that we turn away from him and reject him or have we found light today and turn to him?