Parade of Lights--The Light of the World, Part 2

(See Part 1 here)

Last night’s late Christmas Eve service at our church followed the model, shortened and with some different carols, of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols made famous by King’s College in Cambridge, England. The interwoven Scripture and Christmas carols and the beautifully decorated sanctuary combined to make a beautiful and meaningful service.

The last Scripture passage read in that Festival is John 1-14. Then we had a candle-lighting service where the pastor lit a candle from the Christ Candle and spread that light to all in the church holding their candles.

This gave me a perfect time to follow my own suggestion in part 1 to “Read it, savor it, and meditate on its meaning. Pray for understanding, even enlightenment.”

The meaning inherent in the passing of the light from the candle representing Christ to the candle each of us held is obvious. We not only receive that light from someone, but we pass it on to someone else. Thus is the Light of the World spread throughout the world—one believer at a time receiving the gospel and then passing it on.

I pray that as this simple illustration is repeated in other congregations, and replayed in our minds from previous candlelight services, we will all be so “enlightened”, receiving the Light of the World into our own lives and passing His gospel on to someone else living in darkness.

Merry Christmas in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rudy