When you see the lights of Christmas, let them remind you of the One who declared, “I AM the light of the world” (John 8:12). The Word of God gives this revelation of the Light. “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God and He was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn’t make. Life itself was in Him and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:1-5 NLT).

When I was just a small boy, my dad would sometimes send me outside to the coal shed during the night to get a bucket of coal for the old coal stove. I was afraid of the dark and imagined all kinds of creatures lurking in the dark shadows ready to grab me. If my dad gave me a flashlight, I was much braver. It was even better when my dad came with me down the long black path. My dad cast a broader beam than I could and his presence lit up the darkness for me.

The priest Zechariah prophesied of the Christmas light that was about to shine forth. “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited his people and redeemed them. He has sent a mighty Savior . . . Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide us to the path of peace” (Luke 1:67-79 NLT).

Because Christ has shone forth into this world we do not need to sit in darkness, gloom and doom, fear, and loneliness. You don’t have to be lost. Jesus came to give us light and life everlasting.

When you see Christmas lights remember that Jesus came to give us these five lights.

First – Jesus is the light of REVELATION. Jesus said, ‘When you see me, you see the Father.” He came to show us what the Father in heaven is like. We have a revelation of the eternal Word (John 1) a revelation of Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life.” John the Baptist announced Him. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Consider the old Christmas carol “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” – “Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings”

Second – Jesus is the light of ILLUMINATION. “The light shineth in the darkness” (John 1:5). He is the “One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). In heaven the Lamb (Jesus) is the light. (Revelation 21:23; 22:5) Let Jesus light up your life.

Third – Jesus is the light of DECLARATION. Jesus declared to a dark and lost world, “I AM the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). Declare His light to the darkness by praise and proclamation.

Fourth – Jesus is the light of PARTICIPATION. Christmas is a lonely day for those who do not have someone to share it with. Jesus invites you to partake and participate in Christmas. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

When we walk in the light of God’s word and way, we can enjoy fellowship with God and the family of God. That makes Christmas a daily delight. Through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the tree, we can have forgiveness and cleansing from our sins. Jesus came to offer himself as a lamb of sacrifice for the sins of the world. Partake of His light.

Fifth – Jesus is the light of SALAVATION. Zachariah prophesied about his son John the Baptist who would announce that God “has raised a horn of salvation . . . To give knowledge of salvation . . . By the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the dayspring from on high has visited us” (Luke 1:68-79). Jesus is the shining STAR of Christmas. He is our salvation.

Let the Light of Christmas shine on you and through you. “For as many as received Him, gave He the right to become sons of God, even as many as believed on His name” (John 1:12).