Thankful for Christmas Lights, and for the True Christmas Light - Jesus!

Do you like Christmas lights? I think, as I have grown older, I enjoy a tasteful display of lights even more than when I was a child. In Alaska the lights of Christmas displays cut through the long darkness of winter. But, even in other parts of our country, as winter darkness grows longer, the colored lights of Christmas decorations bring some hope and joy into our dark world.

I thought of some of the tasteful and beautiful displays I have recently seen as I read the Gospel lesson assigned for the Third Sunday of Advent, for December 17 this year. “9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” Did you catch that? “The TRUE light?” That’s Jesus!

I also thought about this verse recently as a neighbor unexpectedly paid a visit. Kathy and I were in the kitchen when a man knocked on our front door. There are a lot of multi-colored light displays in our neighborhood. Some displays shine lights with blow up Santas, or with reindeer, or snowmen. We do have outside decorations at our home. But, our Christmas display is a simple wooden cutout of the manger scene, with a single light shining on it. Our neighbor knocked and told Kathy, “Thank you for your decorations. That’s really what Christmas is all about.”

Jesus is, as John wrote, “The true light, which gives light to everyone. . .” But he didn’t come into the world as a powerful ruler. He came as a humble baby. He was not born in an ornate palace, but in a stable, a stable which was probably somewhat dirty. I do enjoy the beautiful colored Christmas lights. But, our display is a reminder of the simple manger in which the Son of God was born, through which Jesus came gave the right to become children of God.” Hopefully our decorations say, ‘9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, [Who came] into the world.”

I do enjoy the light displays during the Christmas season. But, the Real Light, the TRUE Light in a world of sin and death and darkness is . . . Jesus!