Merry Christmas! The LIGHT Has Come!

John 1 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Living Expression

1 In the very beginning[a] the Living Expression[b] was already there.

And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God.[c]

2 They were together—face-to-face,[d] in the very beginning.[e]

3 And through his creative inspiration

this Living Expression made all things,[f]

for nothing has existence apart from him!

4 Life came into being[g] because of him,

for his life is light for all humanity.[h]

5 And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom[i]—

the Light that darkness could not diminish![j]

6 Then suddenly a man appeared who was sent from God,

a messenger named John.[k]

7 For he came to be a witness, to point the way to the Light of Life,

and to help everyone believe.

8 John was not that Light but he came to show who is.

For he was merely a messenger to speak the truth about the Light.

9 For the Light of Truth[l] was about to come into the world

and shine upon everyone.[m]

Luke 2 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Birth of Jesus

An Angelic Encounter

8 That night, in a field[e] near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! 10 But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 11 For today in Bethlehem[f] a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah.[g] 12 You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”[h]

13 Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:

14 “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!

For there is peace[i] and a good hope[j] given to the sons of men.”

15 When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word[k] that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 So they ran into the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough.

17 Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. 18 Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was astonished by what they were told.

19 But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and often pondered what they meant.

20 The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said.

John 1, continued

10 He entered into the very world he created,

yet the world was unaware.[n]

11 He came to the very people he created[o]—

to those who should have recognized him,

but they did not receive him.

12 But those who embraced him and took hold of his name[p]

were given authority to become

the children of God!

13 He was not born by the joining of human parents[q]

or from natural means,[r] or by a man’s desire,

but he was born of God.[s]

14 And so the Living Expression

became a man[t] and lived among us![u]

And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory,[v]

the glory of the One and Only[w]

who came from the Father overflowing

with tender mercy[x] and truth!

The Light For All

The idea that God would go to such a great length, becoming human himself, in order to save undeserving people sounds almost like a fairy tale, almost too good to be true. But it is true and it is good news.

The God of ALL creation, the ONE who made it all sent His Son, the one THROUGH whom it all began, to set an example for ALL and to Die for ALL so that ALL HUMANITY can be redeemed, set free and made new.

He is THE Light that shines on the pathway that leads us home to the only Father who will NEVER disappoint, who will NEVER turn His back, who will NEVER fail.

He is for you and me and every human heart that will receive Him.

He is the Light for all those in darkness regardless of what has been done, where you have gone, the color of your skin, the nation you live in, the mistakes you’ve made, the job you have, any social status…THE LIGHT FOR ALL.

The Light Cuts Through

”He came and made me whole in places I didn’t even know were broken.”

The light of Christ has come to break through the lies of the enemy that wage war against your soul.

Jeremiah 1:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Before you were born I set you apart

and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

He is the One who knows you best. Better than your parents. Better than your spouse or significant other. Better than your best friend. He knows the human heart and mind so well, not just because He created it but because He took on flesh and experienced the lies, the sorrows, the joys and the temptation that we face.

He knows you best so what He says about is greater and truer than what anyone else can say of you.

The enemy will whisper in your ear anything he can to bring unrest to your heart, anxiousness to your mind and steal the joy and peace from your life.

But God. But Jesus.

“14 “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!

For there is peace[i] and a good hope[j] given to the sons of men.”

His Light not only shines on the truth but it IS THE TRUTH!

“5 And this Living Expression is the Light that bursts through gloom[i]—

the Light that darkness could not diminish![j]”

Even in the strongest storms, darkest nights and hardest times, His Light shines.

And All. Is. Well.

The Light is Real

The Light is for all and it cuts through every lie and speaks the truth into our hearts.

The world has rejected what they did not recognize but those who choose to see it and respond to it know…

The Light is REAL.

“14 And so the Living Expression

became a man[t] and lived among us![u]”

The Light, Jesus Christ our Messiah, is real, on planet earth and He dwells among us!

What Is Your Response?

Suppose someone was standing in front of you holding a gift wrapped in beautiful paper with a giant bow on top and that gift has your name on it. The thing is, if you refuse to come and get it, then it’s just a box wrapped in paper with a bow.

The greatest gift ever given to mankind didn’t come wrapped in beautiful paper and certainly didn’t have a bow. The gift—peace, hope, life—came humbly, wrapped in strips of cloth in a dirty animal stall, lived simply, was rejected, beaten and scorned.

That gift is the Light. It is Jesus.

The gift of Jesus is the gift of salvation. Just like any other gift it is only truly yours if you receive it. He longs for you to take the gift.

He is the gift for you.

He brings truth and light to your life and wants to dwell within you.

If you haven’t accepted His gift now is your opportunity to do so.

Say this prayer if you are ready, Dear Jesus,

Thank you for coming into this world

And shining a light

For my heart to follow.

Forgive me of my sin and doubt.

Wash me clean through your blood.

Renew my mind and dwell in my heart.

You are the Lord of my life

And I surrender to you.

Amen

Isaiah wrote about the coming Messiah:

9:6 For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His government and its peace

will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David

for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

will make this happen!

Today I am praying that you encounter the true Light that has come and that your heart and mind are illuminated by his goodness, mercy and love.

Merry Christmas!