" The LIGHT of the World "

John 8:12   " The JESUS spake unto them again, saying,  ' I AM the LIGHT of the world: he that followeth ME shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. "

     It was a dark time politically and spiritually when JESUS was born. Caesar Augustus had decreed that a census was to be taken of the entire inhabited world of his Roman Empire for taxing purposes. As a result, everyone had to return to his birth city (Luke 2:1-3). This taxation would create hardship, inconvenience, and for some, impossibility. But GOD used this incident to accomplish HIS most glorious plan. Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth of Galilee and, because of the decree, had to journey over sixty-five miles south to the little town of Bethlehem, some six miles beyond Jerusalem. But again, this was not by accident, nor was what happened there a coincidence. You see, GOD had already promised in the Scriptures, written by the Prophet Micah some 720 years earlier, that the MESSIAH would be born in Bethlehem.

     Isaiah, likewise, prophesied concerning JESUS, the ETERNAL ONE, about 750 years before HIS birth. CHRIST was prophesied to be  "for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house" (Isaiah 42:6-7).  It was aged Simeon who, seeing JESUS in the temple at HIS dedication, said,  "For mine eyes have seen THY Salvation, which THOU has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of THY people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32). The Apostle John wrote concerning JESUS:  "In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4-9). CHRIST HIMSELF declared in our text "I AM the light of the world: he that followeth ME shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  May JESUS be the light of your life on this Christmas Eve ! PNF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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