Christmas Day in Hospital (yet another)
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6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have see
‘What has come into being, in him was life and the life was the light of all people.’
Isn’t it a bit daft to think a person could be a light of all people.
[Demonstrate: Show torch]
We’re nothing like a light, are we? We don’t shine like that, you don’t switch us on like that, we don’t need our bulbs changing (maybe some people think we do!).
Yet John 1:14 says of Jesus, “This Light became flesh and lived among us.”
This is Christmas Day and this is our Christmas message. When this baby grew up aged 30 he said about himself in John 8:12 ‘I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will have the light of life and never walk in darkness.”
I’m going to tell you about two lights ….
1.Light: In the Beginning.
[Move 1] In the beginning before the world was a world, God spoke a word “LIGHT” (let there be light) and just as he said it– light was the 1st thing God made. Not torch light but day and night (Sun moon stars).
Thousands of years later (about 2013 yrs ago) the world had become a very dark place – dark as night in day time, dark – not because there was no sunshine (there was) dark because people were doing wrong things rather than the right. And that ‘dark’ blocked off God the one who made the light & us. God made us to shine with his light in us. When things come b/n God and us they block out the light [like an eclipse eg moon][eclipse is when s/thing gets in the way of the sun] [sun, moon, earth b/n].
Sadly the world had become like that and more than 2000 yrs ago God looked from heaven and said this isn’t right, this isn’t good…But God still loved the world and especially humans with a special love. A special love that just wants to get to know us more and more. 2000+ yrs ago God said it is time, time to turn the world’s darkness into LIGHT
2. Light: In the baby
[Move 2] God said that word again [LIGHT] (‘Let there be light’) and what happened?
A baby was born, a baby called JESUS & he was the NEW LIGHT of the world…[Shine the torch onto ceiling] “The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us” he was God in human form with our human flesh & bones just like us in every way.
By coming to our world as the light he did no darkness no wrong. Instead of God being up there he was with us, one of us, a tiny baby – known from that day as ‘the light of the world. And this centre candle here says we believe + is the one that lights up our life .
But what does the light do for us if we invite him into our lives.
1. Lights up the path ahead [praying for guidance]Ps 119:105 “your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”
2. The Light shows up the dirt. [Cup – clean or dirty, look inside with torch – dirty] When we come to Jesus (LIGHT) he shows us the things in our lives he calls dirt things like selfish/cruel/mean/not loving, stealing, lying [John 16:8]. So when we come to him and say sorry.. forgive me.. he is making us clean again. [1.John 1:9 If we confess our sins…he will forgive us our sins and purify us..”]
3. The LIGHT is for growth [experiment: Watercress in 2 yoghurt cartons (joined) 1. Dark (cover over) 2. in light…what do you think will happen]
With + the LIGHT in our lives we grow as Christians… grow to be more like him, more loving, caring, and knowing Him more and more.
Unless of course you prefer darkness, staying away from Jesus.
That’s an important question - do you want to walk with Jesus or do you want to walk away from Jesus.
If you want to walk with Jesus, what happens is this - you will have the LIGHT within.
Sounds good to me, does it to you?
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John 8:12 ‘I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will have the light of life and never walk in darkness.”
Jesus, the Light of the World. This is the message of Christmas!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
O Come All Ye faithful - John Francis Wade (b. 1711; d.1786)
Footnote
John Wesley's dying words were: ' God is with us.'
