SIL Sisters in Christ: The Real Light of Christmas

Well hey, sweet sister! I know your life is probably getting more hectic like the minute with Christmas fast approaching and your to-do list probably feels like it never ends - but I want you to remember one very important thing about this time of year.

All that busy-ness, all that preparation, all of the celebration is because Jesus was born. Jesus, our King and the Lord of Lords was born in a manger as a tiny, precious human baby. Our God was born here on earth, in human flesh as a tiny fragile newborn. 

Our Lord that came to die for our sins so that we could be forgiven - so that we could be pure and blameless in God's sight. Jesus gave us the most incredible gift - so let's take a little time out to spend with Him. 

This week we're looking at John 12, continuing on with our Jesus 101 series as we explore the Gospel of John

I have come into the world as light

so that no one who believe in Me
should stay in darkness.

John 12:46

As we get closer to Christmas, lights are strung up on houses, twinkly fairy lights adorn Christmas trees in living rooms and many find themselves lighting candles for an extra festive touch as friends and family join them to celebrate the festive season. 

Can you imagine what Christmas would be like without light? Light and Christmas are a seemingly perfect combination - have you ever thought why that is? Why we choose to adorn our houses and our trees with twinkly lights during this time of the year - but not any other?

Light is a pretty powerful part of Christmas. 

The true reality of Christmas is that it's all about the light of Jesus. The hope and love brought from God, brilliantly revealed in the birth of a tiny newborn in a manger in Bethlehem. 

The light of God's undeserved love shines bright throughout the Christmas season - but somehow we often overlook it in favour of things. What's on the Christmas table, what's under the tree, how many parties we need to attend and when on earth we'll have enough time to write Christmas cards.

But what we need to focus on is the true light. Jesus was born as a fragile newborn because He came to meet us. He came to die for us. He came to save us. The everlasting light that is Jesus Christ fills us with His light, His love and His life and He refreshes and renews us each and every day. 

Christmas is special not just because it's wrapped up in tradition and ritual and nostalgia - but because the light of the world came to us with His forgiving love to set our hearts on fire so that we could follow Him. The light of Jesus shines in our hearts and we don't have to remain in the dark - because even the tiniest, smallest, speck of light will shine through the darkness.

It's only when we turn the light on in a dark house that we can safely see to navigate through it. Sure, we could get through in the dark - but we'd probably stumble. You think you know what's there but in reality, you're only guessing. The light clears away any problems that might pop up on our path as we head to where we want to go.

But Jesus isn't telling us we should live with the lights on - Jesus is speaking about spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness represents the absence of the light of God - or a separation from that light. Spiritual darkness represents sin and the sinful nature that we all have in us - and it's that sin that separates us from God.

Jesus came as the answer for that spiritual darkness. 

He came as the solution. 

He came to mend our broken relationship with God. 

What Jesus is telling us in that passage above is that He came to bring us light. He came to tell us that He has the solution to the problem that no one else can fix. 

We can't restore our relationship with God through good works or favours - Jesus restored our relationship with God through His death on the cross. It's through our trust and faith in Jesus that our relationship with God can be restored. It's through Jesus that we step into the light. 

Without Jesus we are walking in a spiritual darkness which we will never be able to escape on our own. We're lost in the darkness of sin, hopeless and helpless - but as He says, Jesus came to bring us light so that we need not remain in the dark.

And if you're worried about being judged for walking in the light, don't be. You don't have to be afraid because look at what Jesus says in the very next verse; 

If anyone hears my words but does not keep them,
I do not judge that person;
For I did not come to judge the world,
but to save the world.
John 12:48

A lot of people who don't know Jesus think of Him as this huge guy sitting up there in heaven, looking down on the earth with a list in hand checking who's naughty and nice - but Jesus isn't Santa. 

The world thinks that Jesus requires perfection - that if we're not perfect, we're surely going to hell.

But I want to tell you something: No one can be perfect. It doesn't matter how hard you try, you'll never achieve it. We're sinful by nature - but luckily Jesus was perfect and He lived the perfect life so that we didn't have to!

Jesus came to be our saviour - and each time you take a look at Christmas lights this holiday season, I want you to remember the promise of the true light - Jesus Christ. I want you to remember the gift that He brings you. 

Jesus came to save! 

Jesus isn't sitting there judging you, He wants to show His love for you by redeeming you, forgiving you and saving you so that you may never have to walk in the darkness. All you have to do is accept Him into your life.