The Brilliance Beyond Bulbs: Jesus—The Ultimate Light of Christmas
written by Debbie Milton
How can anyone not love Christmas lights?
My Grandpa Merz had the best light display at Christmas that I ever remember. I’m not sure when he started his work nor do I know the number of lights that he used (I’m sure I thought that it must’ve been a million!). But his house and yard were always spectacular!
Every roof angle, every door and window, every bush, and every tree was covered with the festive bulbs of his handiwork. Back then everyone used big lights, and they only came in red, yellow, blue, and green. And I can be pretty sure that when folks drove around town to view the neighborhood lights, Grandpa’s house was on their list!
The darker the night, the more brilliantly the lights shined. How I would love to see them again just once more!
Yet as beautiful and as majestic as Christmas lights can be, they pale in comparison to Jesus—the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5).
He shines more brilliantly in the darkness of sin than any bulb could shine in the darkness of night.
Fair is the sunshine,
Fairest Lord Jesus, author unknown
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Darkness is frightening, uncertain, and lonely, but Jesus—the brightness of the glory of the Father—casts out the darkness, replacing it with forgiveness, hope, and comfort (2 Corinthians 4:6).
He came into the world to do that for me—for you!
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
In Him [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4-5
At this time of year when we enjoy the lights, let’s be grateful that Jesus was born—born for the cross and born to bring the light of the glorious gospel to all who would receive it.
What better gift could anyone ever receive than this?