Scripture referenced 11 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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John 8:12 Jesus declares himself the light of the world; quoted twice during the service
12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
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Keep this verse
Isaiah 7:14
the virgin will conceive and bear a son called Immanuel
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
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Isaiah 9:6-7
a child is born, wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace, ruling from David's throne
6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.
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Micah 5:2
Bethlehem Ephrathah, small among Judah, yet a ruler of Israel will come from you
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from ancient times.
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John 1:17
God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ, who has revealed God to us
17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
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John 1:5
the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
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Matthew 1:18-25
the birth of Jesus the Messiah, Joseph's dream and the angel's announcement
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
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Luke 2:1-20
the census, the birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds and the angel announcing the Savior's birth
1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
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Matthew 2:1-12
the wise men from the East following the star to find the newborn king
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
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Matthew 25:34-40
the king welcoming the righteous, saying what was done for the least of these was done to him
34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
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Matthew 5:14-16
you are the light of the world; let your light shine before others
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This was the Christmas Eve service at First B Jackson, a night of scripture readings, congregational singing, and candle lighting built around the arrival of Jesus as the light of the world. Pastor led the gathering through the birth narratives and pointed toward what that birth means for everyone in the room. The evening closed with a candle lighting from the Christ candle, sent out into the congregation as a picture of Christ's light passing through his people.
What was said
The service opened with a warm welcome, especially to first-time visitors, and a clear statement of purpose: this night was about celebrating the Christ in Christmas. The Sycamma family lit the Christ candle on the Advent wreath, marking the end of the Advent journey. The lighting came alongside John 8:12, where Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
The scripture readings moved through Isaiah and Micah, then through Matthew 1 and Luke 2, tracing the promises made to Israel and their fulfillment in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The readings let the story carry its own weight, with the familiar details of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels all read aloud to the room.
Pastor then turned to Matthew 2, reading the visit of the wise men and pausing over the contrast between Herod and the Christ child. He kept returning to capitalization as a way of making a point: Herod was a small-k king, while Jesus was the capital-K King, the capital-C Christ, the capital-R Ruler the prophets had promised. The wise men, guided by a star, knew exactly what to do when they found him: they fell down and worshiped him.
From there, Pastor moved to a second passage from Matthew, this one from the Olivet discourse near the end of Jesus' life. The same capital-K King, speaking to his disciples a week before the crucifixion, describes the judgment: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me." Pastor connected this to the Angel Tree in the back of the building and to all the giving that had been happening over recent weeks.
The candle lighting brought the evening to its close, with Pastor describing the act as a picture of Christ's light passing from person to person, and from the church out into the world. He read John 1:5, that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it, and Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus tells his followers that they are the light of the world and charges them to let that light shine before others. The congregation was sent out with that charge still in the air.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- The Sycamma family read John 8:12, where Jesus says 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.' What does it look like, practically, to follow that light in your own life right now?
- The reading from Isaiah gives Jesus several names, including Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Which of those names means the most to you this season, and why?
and 3 more questions in the guide
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