As Pastor Wilson will remind us in the sermon this morning, the Christmas gospel announces the coming of day. Those in darkness see a great light, as the Sun rises with healing in His wings. The light has come into the world that lightens every man, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. The Light of God Himself, the Light that is God Himself, has become flesh, so that men could see the glory, touch it with their hands, listen to it speak, enter into it and be filled with it. The Christmas gospel is that God is light and in Him is no darkness or shadow of turning.
At Jesus’ birth not everyone greeted this dawn with joy, and still many do not admit the Sun has risen. Day has begun, but many prefer to remain under the cloak of night, because their deeds are evil. It is not midnight, and the insane unbelief of the self-blinded does not in the least diminish the reality of day. Many rage against the coming of light, but they can neither comprehend nor overcome it.
Those who remain in darkness are not merely “out there” in the world. The Apostle John warned Christians about the danger of walking in darkness, and for John the key test of living in the day is brotherly love. Those who claim to be of the day but hate their brothers are still stumbling blindly in the dark.
It has been trivialized by humanistic Dickensian stories and movies and TV programs, but it remains true: The gospel of Christmas is about Love, the love of God that comes as the Dayspring from on High, the love of God that dwells among us so that we will love one another, the love of God that brings in the eighth day, the beginning of a new week.
Walking in Day also means walking in truth, and walking in truth means being honest about our sins.
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