25 December 2021

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

Over the last four Sundays we used the advent wreath to help us remember and to focus on the real reason we set aside December 25 to celebrate. We have been reminded that our salvation became human flesh, and our focus was not only on the moment of his birth but it also has been pointing us to His death and resurrection and it has reminded us to live expectantly for His return. Jesus is the light of the World and nothing can stop that light from shining in the darkness.

Today we light all the candles of the Advent wreath. We light the candle for hope because hope is not an idea, it is a person, Jesus . We light the candle for peace because Jesus is our prince of peace. We light the candle of love because Jesus is God’s love incarnate and nothing can overcome Jesus’ love for us. We light the candle for joy because Jesus brings everlasting joy. Today, Christmas day, we light the Christ candle, as we celebrate the wonderful reality that Jesus the Christ, the light of the world, our glorious redeeming savior, is born. We don’t light the Christ candle for a baby. We light it for the Savior of the World. We light it for the Messiah who came once and who has promised to come again. He alone is our ultimate source of hope, peace, joy, and love in this life, and the next. He is the savior of the world to whom all scripture points. Someday, he will come again and bring us to his kingdom to enjoy life with him forever.

This Christmas day we worship with thanksgiving and we pray as millions before us have prayed. Come Lord Jesus, Come.

Father of love, who revealed your light gloriou