1. God’s Gift of light
John 1:1-14

2. Matthew 4 New International Version
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,     the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,     Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness     have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death     a light has dawned.”

3. The moment of epiphany
Jesus never saw the light!

4. John 8 New International Version
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

5. John 12
New International Version
45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

6. Where is your temple ?
Where do the priests do their work?
How to you sacrifice to your God?

7. Jesus is the end of religion!

8. Christmas is about light

9. John 1
New International Version
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

10. John 1
New International Version
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

11. John 1
New International Version
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

12. The Story of Helen Keller

14. Word / language

16. Word through the hands

18. Helen’s greatest regret

19. The Story of Simeon

20. Luke 2
New International Version
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,     you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,     and the glory of your people Israel.”

21. Christmas is the celebration of God’s gift of Light in the Word

22. Light in the Word
God reveals himself through our imperfect rational mind
God reveals himself through his perfect Son

23. Luke 23
New Living Translation
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”

24. Light vs Mystery
Light vs Dark Traditions

25. John 1
New International Version
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

26. John 1
New International Version
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

27. John 1
New International Version
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

28. The Problem  Rejecting Jesus
John 1 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

29. The Solution  Receiving Jesus
John 1 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

30. Christmas and the Coming Year
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.