The Light of God in Christmas

The Holy Spirit

Later, in Jerusalem, the disciples gathered in a room once again when a mighty wind filled the house and the light of God appeared over each of them. They were suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit and ran outside, speaking in different languages. There were many Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem, and they exclaimed, “How can we hear the disciples of Jesus speaking in our own language? This is a wonderful work of God — but what does it mean?”

Then the disciple Peter shouted, “This is like when the prophet Joel said, ‘In the last days I will pour out my Spirit, and I will show wonders in the heavens and the earth. And whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ This is possible because of Jesus, whom you crucified!” This touched the hearts of Peter’s listeners, and three thousand souls were saved and received the Spirit. Thus the Lord was adding more people to His church every day, as He continues to do today when people receive the Holy Spirit and are saved.

This is how, for a time, the Lord undid the confusion of languages made at the Tower of Babel. And the disciples of Jesus boldly went forth to spread the good news of God’s light in the world.


Saul Sees The Light

A man named Saul, a strict teacher of Jewish law, hated the followers of Jesus. He tried to stop them by beating and imprisoning as many as possible.

One day, when Saul was traveling to Damascus, a bright light blinded him and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice say, “Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute.”
The people traveling with Saul also saw the light but didn’t hear the voice.
Then Saul asked, “What do you want of me, Lord?”
And Jesus said, “I will send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes. You will turn them away from the darkness of Satan and toward the light of God, that they may be forgiven of their sins and receive eternal salvation.”

But Saul was blind now and had to be led by others. Upon arriving in Damascus, a man named Ananias said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Within the hour Saul could see again. He changed his name to Paul, and became a disciple of Jesus.


The Light of God In The World

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor does anyone hide a light under a basket. It is set on a lampstand to light the whole house. In the same way, your light must shine to glorify your heavenly Father.”

So the disciples, filled with the light of God, went forth boldly. Their teaching spread, like the branches of a Menorah, to bless the nations. Over time these teachings were written down and made into the Bible. The Ten Commandments became the foundation of Law, and the teachings of Jesus have inspired the creation of countless hospitals, universities, churches, and charities. Science, math, music, art, and architecture have expanded. Western civilization, infused with principles found in the Bible, blossomed and led to the prosperity and freedom that we enjoy to this day.

But Satan is still in the world. His evil whispers bring hatred, war, pestilence, and famine. And sometimes, like wolves in sheep’s clothing, his workers infiltrate God’s churches.


The Light of God In the New World

Eventually, explorers brought the light of God — the Bible, prayer, and thanksgiving — over the Atlantic ocean and settled into the “New World.” Churches were in every town and the Ten Commandments in every court room. For a long time, throughout the colonies, the Bible was taught in public schools. Which is why, to this day, people say, “God bless you” when someone sneezes -- even if they’re not believers.

God’s light shone bright in the hearts of these colonists, but the God-given freedom they cherished was soon being trampled by King George of England. So the colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence, to explain their reasons for defying him. It notes that “we the people” are made equal by “Natures God”; are endowed with rights by our “Creator”; and appeals to the “Supreme Judge of the world” for justice. Thus we rely on the light of “Divine Providence” for our freedom, and are not subject to any earthly tyrant.
But King George stubbornly refused to change his ways, and so the American Revolutionary War was born. During that war, the phrase the colonists emphatically shouted in response to his tyranny was, “No King but King Jesus!” And so, relying of the light of God, they eventually won their freedom.



The Light of God in Christmas

In 1870, Christmas became a federal “holy day,” or what we now call a “holiday,” to honor the birth, life, and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Today the Christmas tree reminds us of God’s light in the world. On top is the largest and brightest star, symbolizing the light of God throughout history: in creation, the burning bush, the pillar of fire, the star of Bethlehem, the transfiguration, and Jesus Himself. The small lights symbolize the light of God in the followers of Jesus. From the Menorah to the Holy Spirit in the disciples, it was foretold that God’s light would be with those who believe. For, since the beginning, God’s plan was to share His light all over the world, fulfilling His promise to make the descendants of Abraham “as the stars of heaven.”