When Jesus was prophesied to come, no doubt God in love said, you know, how am I going to describe to people what Jesus has come to do? And God, of course, has a perfect plan and understanding. He says, I know how folks can understand what Jesus has come to do. I'll tell the world that Jesus, my Son, the Savior, is going to be the light of the world. I'll let folks know that Jesus is the light, because inside of us, in our hearts, there's the acknowledgement and the realization that there's darkness. I don't know about you, but just as a boy, The Holy Spirit highlighted the darkness in my heart. I was eight years old and I really hadn't done anything heinous. But I had a proclivity to lie, willingness to cheat, desire to steal. Selfishness was prominent in my heart. There was darkness. The darkness in my heart began to bother me. The Holy Spirit began to show me that I was a sinner. And you know what it was that brought hope to me as just a boy? Jesus, the light of the world. Let me read a few verses to you from God's Word, beginning in John chapter 1. I'll read some verses to you. You may take these notes down. I'm going to go to several places, but I want to make this point and show you that Jesus is the light. And every man, woman, boy, and girl needs the light. John 1.1, the Bible says in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. God says of Jesus in his word that Jesus is the light of men. In Luke chapter 2 verses 30, 31 and 32, Simeon had just laid his eyes on the baby Jesus. And here's what God put in his heart to say. He says, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. Prophets prophesied that the Messiah would be a light to lighten the Gentiles. Who did Jesus come to bring light to? The whole world. In John 8, verse 12, Jesus speaking. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. In John 9, verse 5, Jesus says it just like this. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Oh, I'm so thankful that Jesus is the light. If you're here tonight and you know that Jesus has shined his light in your life, and you know that you're saved, you've been forgiven of your sin, you've put your trust in Christ, Jesus is your Savior. This is a testimony of the light that God has put in your heart and shined in your heart. Would you just say, Amen? Amen. Isn't it wonderful to know Jesus? By the way, if you're here tonight and you do not know Jesus, by faith is your Savior the greatest gift ever given. And the reason we have this tradition of giving gifts was Jesus gave himself to pay the price for our sins so we could have eternal life. Jesus is the light of the world. It's a fact. It's established in the scriptures. But something interesting happens. And the Lord Jesus commissions us, his people, to also be the light. The Bible says in Ephesians 5, 8, we were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light. In 1 Thessalonians 5, 5, ye are the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 1 Peter 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. God has called his people to be lights. I want to encourage you. this Christmas season, this Christmas Eve, tomorrow, Christmas Day, and by all means every day throughout the year. If Jesus has been the light of your life and He's forgiven you of your sins and given you eternal life, if you're saved, you're a child of God, I challenge you, be a light. to a dark world. Be a light to people in need. Share the light of the Lord Jesus. I want to read to you one last passage of scripture. I think you'll find it familiar. Matthew chapter 5 verses 14, 15, and 16. The Bible says this, ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. What does God call us to be? Lights. I remember as a little boy learning the children's song, this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, this little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine, this little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. I think my favorite verse of that one as a kid was, won't let Satan blow it out. I'm gonna let it shine. We'll stop there. What's the point, preacher? There's two points. One, if you're here tonight, And the Holy Spirit has shown you that you have a heart that's dark. There's darkness and there's no hope and you feel the guilt of sin. I want to let you know something, Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus died on the cross for you, that you could put your trust in Him and receive His forgiveness and become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. He'll change your life. Point number two. is if you put your trust in Jesus and you know Christ by faith is your Savior I challenge you, let your light shine for Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. This is a candlelight service and I want to take just a minute and we're going to do something special. Hi Brandon, dim what lights are left And we have this light that represents Jesus. I promise this one may blow out, but Jesus will not. This one light represents Jesus. He came to light the world. It's an amazing thing that has happened. since the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. His light that started in Bethlehem's manger has been spread from people to people, nation to nation. The way it got to me, I don't know how many lights were passed from Jesus until it came to Our little house on Old Stage Road in Chill Valley, Virginia when I was just eight years old when I put my trust in Jesus. But somebody loved Jesus enough to share the light. We start with Jesus and Jesus passed the light to this person. And when you get the light, you should share it. And Jesus passed the light to this person. And when you get the light, you should share it. Jesus passed the light to this person and it should be shared. Make sure when you get the light you pass it along. And it's a beautiful example of what Jesus has done for us. We'll take a minute while the light is shared. It's a beautiful thing to see what happens when the light is shared. I want to challenge you, Christian people. Let your light shine before me. Shine the light of Jesus. Shine the light of Christmas. be a bright light to a dark world. I'm so thankful for this Christmas season. I'm thankful for our Savior. So thankful for Jesus and we remember Him tonight.