Christmas Eve 2023 - 6pm Service - John 8:12

In one paragraph

The Christmas Eve message at First B Jackson traced the nativity story from the prophets through the visit of the Magi, with particular attention to the gift of myrrh and what it says about why Jesus came. The preacher worked through the scripture readings with commentary woven in, letting the story carry the weight of the evening. The candle lighting that closed the service put the invitation...

Read together

1. Isaiah 7:14 prophecy of the virgin bearing a son named Emmanuel
2. Isaiah 9:6-7 child born to us, son given, government on his shoulders, names including wonderful counselor and prince of peace
3. Micah 5:2 Bethlehem as the birthplace of the one who will be ruler in Israel
4. Matthew 1:18-24 Joseph's dream, the angel's message, and his obedience in taking Mary as his wife
5. Luke 2:1-20 census, birth of Jesus, shepherds and the angel, the heavenly host, shepherds going to Bethlehem
6. Matthew 2:1-11 Magi arriving in Jerusalem, Herod's inquiry, the star leading to the child, gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh
7. John 3:16 quoted at the lighting of the candle of love and again in connection with Nicodemus
8. John 8:12 Jesus declaring himself the light of the world and that followers will not walk in darkness
9. John 1:5 the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot extinguish it
10. Matthew 5 Jesus telling his followers they are the light of the world and to let their light shine before others

Talk about it

1. The preacher pointed out a pattern in the Christmas story: when Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds each received a message from God, they acted on it. Is there a message or prompting you have received that you have not yet acted on? What has held you back?
2. The preacher noted that the gifts of the Magi, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each carried meaning beyond their material value, with myrrh foreshadowing the death and burial of Jesus. How does knowing that the shadow of the cross was present even at the manger change the way you think about Christmas?
3. Myrrh appears three times in the New Testament: at Jesus' birth, offered to Him on the cross (which He refused), and used at His burial (which He did not need). What does it mean to you that Jesus voluntarily refused the painkiller and chose to fully bear the weight of sin on the cross?
4. The preacher moved from Jesus saying 'I am the light of the world' to Jesus telling His followers 'you are the light of the world.' What does it look like practically for you to carry that light in the places where you live and work?
5. The candle lighting closed with the reminder from John 1:5 that the darkness has never overcome the light of Christ. Where in your own life, or in the world around you, do you most need to hold onto that promise right now?