Christmas Eve Service
Jesus: "The Light of the World"
The bible describes the world as darkness, because for a little while it is being ruled by the prince of darkness- The Devil who is a spiritual force of wickedness in the world. We know it is not against people-flesh and blood that we battle because the bible says this:
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
John 3:21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
This darkness manifests itself through man’s sin, through people who hate, people who are deceived and would orchestrate terrorism and fly planes into the world trade center.
Or even on a more personal level as someone broke into our car today and stole Cathi’s pocketbook.
But it is into this same sin and darkness that God sent His light.
Jesus Christ is the light to the world, He is the only solution to all of the madness that occurs in the darkness.
The bible says:
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The way the truth the life, the light of the world has come into the world, but it is very sad that the world has not received Him.
For those of us here tonight who used to walk in the darkness, but have received Christ, we give praises to God for the truth we have received as we live a life in Christ. For us, we know why we come to worship Him, for the Christian we know Christmas-celebrates Jesus, Jesus who came to save His people from their sins. Jesus who came to lead us out of the darkness and into the light.
Jesus said "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
If you are here tonight, but you do not know why, let the Light continue to speak to you with His own words.
Jesus said:
"You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
John 12:36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."
Do not spend another day in darkness, do not be a person who the light shines on, yet you fail to comprehend Him.
In closing I would like to share with you Jesus’ last words as recorded by John, just before Jesus went to die on the cross.
John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
John 12:45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
John 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
John 12:49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
John 12:50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
As we light these candles in just a few minutes, may we search our own hearts, may we ask ourselves Have I received the light? The light is shining like a city on a hill- all we have to do is open our eyes, our ears, our hearts and receive the Truth.
Let us walk in the Light as He is in the light.
