The Glory of Light

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. . . . He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

JOHN 1:9–14

Let us consider the glory of the light Who is our Savior and Lord, the Child of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ. Again, the apostle John says of Jesus, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

Do you know what glory is? It is the outshining of the light of Jesus’ grace and truth. It’s the Shekinah, the glory of God that filled first the tabernacle and then the temple of God in the Old Testament. The glory is the light of God that is in Jesus Christ, Who is Himself fully God. 

I’m sure you know that light is made up of a spectrum of seven colors. The number seven reminds us of the perfections of God. When you put all seven of the colors of the spectrum together, the result is pure light, which speaks of the holiness of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the One Who makes everything colorful, everything glorious! He is the glory of God. 

Let’s think for a minute about those who refuse the Light. It’s sad, but true, that many say no to the Light. John makes this clear in verses 10–11 of our text. Jesus came to that which was His own, but they refused Him. A person would be foolish to deny the existence of light just because he can’t see it. Some people can’t see the light of Jesus because they don’t want to see it. But we are called to take the light of Christmas to those who walk in the darkness. 

And the good news is that if people without Christ will only look to Him, He will shine His light into their hearts! The Babe of Bethlehem is the Light of the world. He will dispel the darkness with the glory of His presence for anyone who will ask.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers