The Greatest Christmas Gift

BREWSTER - John 8:12 is one of the most important and memorable verses in the Bible. "Jesus spoke again to the people,...'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (NIV) It is not hard to understand that Jesus is using a metaphor but what is He talking about?
There are two types of light in the Bible: physical light and spiritual light. Physical light enables us to understand the metaphor of spiritual light. Light played a huge role in the history of the Jewish nation-from "Let there be light; and there was light." In Genesis 1:3 to God speaking to Moses through a bush "burning with fire...but the bush was never consumed" in Exodus 3:2. The Israelites were illuminated by a pillar of fire every night as the Lord led them through the wilderness. They also witnessed the bright light of His glory as it filled the brand new Temple built by King Solomon. Unfortunately, the light would not last. God's glory departed the temple in Ezekiel 10:18 due to their rejection of Him and it would never to return--at least until it filled a different kind of "temple" as "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.'" (John 2:19) When God's glory departed the nation of Israel plunged into a time of spiritual darkness. However, they were encouraged by the hope of a future Savior as they read passages like Isaiah 9:1-2, "...the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned!" (NIV)
They also found hope in one of the last verses in the book of Malachi, "...but for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." Mal. 4:2 (NIV) This "Sun of Righteousness" would break through the spiritual darkness the same way the sun rises every morning, breaking through the physical darkness; such hope!
The metaphor of spiritual light speaks of the light of God's truth; those who perceive the truth will never walk in spiritual darkness! Sadly, how many people are living in spiritual darkness, having no knowledge of God? As we decorate our trees and homes with lights this time of year, know that the "Father of Lights" wants to give you the greatest present ever given: spiritual light! That light is His Son, Jesus Christ. We celebrate His birth as that "holy night." But it was holy for only one reason: God sent His only Son into this world "to rescue us" (Luke 1:74) from the darkness and ugliness of our own sinfulness. How?
"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 (NIV). He gave us the gift of new life through His Son, the greatest Christmas gift any of us could ever be given!