“THE LIGHT!”

 John 1:1-5: 9-13                    (ESV)

“1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.

2 HE was in the beginning with GOD. 

3 All things were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.

4 In HIM was life, and the life was “THE LIGHT” of men.

5 “THE LIGHT” shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

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,

13 who were born, NOT of blood NOR of the will of the flesh NOR of the will of man, BUT OF GOD.”

The word “Christmas” comes from the “Christ mass” or “Mass of Christ”. The “mas” part of “Christmas” is the same as the word Catholics still use for a church service - a mass.  The word “nativity” is a Latin word meaning “arisen by birth”, or the English version is “native”!  The  etymology of the word “Advent” (the time preceding Christmas is fairly straight forward—the English word stems from the Old French advent which is from the literary form auvent. The French, of course, stems from the Latin adventus for "arrival”, some say “important arrival”.  

I find it intriguing that when JESUS came to “this world”, the word used most widely to enunciate the event is “arisen by birth”?  One meaning for “Arisen” is “When an opportunity, problem, or situation arises, it begins to exist.”  But John 1:1 says “IN THE BEGINNING was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD.”  We celebrate today as HIS birthday, but HE always has been, and forever more will be!  

Later on in the book of John, JESUS is described as “THE LIGHT”!  “THE TRUE LIGHT, which gives LIGHT to everyone, was coming into the world.  HE was in the world, and the world was made through HIM, yet THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM.”  JESUS is NOT “THE LIGHT” just because John wrote about HIM, JESUS IS “THE LIGHT” because HE and GOD ARE ONE (John 10:30)!   When “THE LIGHT” is REVEALED to a person on, they can SSW things that have previously gone undetected.  Don’t take it for granted that “anyone could have noticed that”!  JESUS told Peter in Matthew 16:17 "BLESSED are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but MY FATHER WHO is in heaven.”  A DIVINE REVELATION isn’t something to be under appreciated!  

“THE LIGHT” illuminates things that others have yet to SEE!  Let’s not forget that “THE LIGHT” is a GIFT, so that NO MAN may boast of it!  JESUS CHRIST is “THE LIGHT”!  When HE shines “THE LIGHT”, HIS LIGHT to and through us, all we can do is REFLECT “THE LIGHT”, FOR HIS GLORY!!!