My son Lawson gives us many laughs during the Christmas season because of his intense appreciation for lights. He absolutely LOVES Christmas lights and always wants to find more to string up around our yard. He spends hours fixing broken strands and finds the most creative places to place lights inside and outdoors. When he gets it in his mind to put more lights up, he can't be distracted into doing anything else...he is incredibly persistent! This year we let all of the kids put up our Christmas lights for the first time. If you've seen them, you know it is a menagerie of different lights strung on every possible surface of our house and yard. But I like to think of it as a joyous celebration of all that Christmas means.
Why light? What is the significance? Light is therapeutic....literally. Light has an affect on our physical health and emotional well being. We need it to live. The stark contrast of light versus darkness is what helps us to see that there is something much greater worth living for beyond ourselves. Christmas starts with a light...the Star in the East that marked the location of Christ's birthplace. On the night of His birth, glorious angels lit up the dark night sky to sing of birth to a group of humble shepherds. What a performance that must have been! Jesus, God's own perfect son, entered a world, into a place that was filled with terrible suffering and oppression inflicted by the Roman empire. He walked among the people, felt everything that they felt, knew pain, sorrow, fatigue, discouragement, hunger, persecution...and yet he loved people...all of them.
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| One of my favorite Christmas memories....2019...the grumpy angel!! |
2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."
During the coldest and darkest days of the year, isn't it interesting that we celebrate Christmas, a season of many lights? I guess I never really thought much about it before...but I think it is very significant. When I think of all that Jesus did for me, for this world, the way He came, literal Light and perfection entering into great darkness, I am in awe.
I know there are many many Bible verses that compare Jesus to Light, and I wanted to find another Christmas carol that also references Light. In the third verse of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" we find the line, "Light and life to all He brings..." Indeed, He is our Light and brings us life more abundant than we could ever hope or dream for.
"Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that we no more may die
Born to raise us from the earth
Born to give us second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
