-- John 8:12
Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
-- John 1:3-9
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned
-- Isaiah 9:2
According to Jewish tradition, one of the names for the Messiah is "Light." How fitting, then, that Jesus is called the "Light of the World." John's Gospel portrays Jesus as the light that rids us of the darkness brought on by sin - a darkness that ends in death. In the darkness our fears have a tendency to multiply, failings become exaggerated, challenges seem insurmountable. We need daylight to restore our perspective.
Christ has opened the eyes of a sin-darkened world to the truth of the Gospel. We who believe in Him have moved from darkness to light, from death to life. Darkness has been extinguished by light. In His light we see light. When we pray to Jesus as the Light of the World, let us remember that we are calling on the One who was so determined to draw us into His light that He spent nine months in the darkness of His mother's womb in order to become one of us. He is also the same one who was transfigured before His disciples so that "His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:1-2) Let us ask Jesus, our Light, to make us shine with His reflected glory.
The Old Testament is full of images that link God with light - pillars of fire, burning lamps, consuming fire. Such images are often associated with God's nearness or His presence. John's Gospel portrays Jesus as the embodiment of the divine light, a light so powerful that it cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and death.
Just as natural light is essential to life on earth, Christ's light is essential to unending life with God. Whoever believes in His light becomes like Him, reflecting His brightness by walking in His light and obeying His commands. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Discuss: Why do you think John's Gospel uses images of light and darkness to describe Jesus and the world's response to Him? Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does it make you feel when a light is shone into that darkness?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for being such a Light in my life that there is no darkness that you cannot shine through. Thank you for being the Light that even the blind can see. Amen.
Ornament: http://www.biblestoryprintables.com/BibleCraftsChristmasNamesJesus.html#.VmlZHdA-DR3
Activity: Light a candle at your dinner table during the Christmas season to remind yourselves that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Craft: Look at some "religious" paintings in an encyclopedia. What do you notice about "light"?
Service Project Idea: Often homeless individuals have to make do with natural lighting when they are on the street. When it gets dark, there isn’t a convenient switch to flip. The use of fires and candles are often prohibited by local safety codes. Contact your local homeless shelter about donating batteries and flashlights for the needy. You may wish to turn this into a group activity by including other family members, support group members, church families, etc.
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