Christmas with John, 8

SCRIPTURE:  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9 KJV

THOUGHT:  There’s a funny bit in almost every movie about a prince or king. It’s that moment where his full, entire name and titles are announced – and it seems to go on for about a minute until we laugh because, just as we thought it was over, another name or title is added to the preposterous string.

Although it’s not humorous, you have to admit there are a lot of names and titles given to that baby born in a manger. Consider Isaiah’s list: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). Now John’s names for Christ are adding up. First, he is named the Word (v. 1); then he is named the Life (v. 4). Now he is named the true Light, which lighteth every man.

Often at this time of year we sing the words of a carol penned by Charles Wesley in 1739. Charles beautifully wove Isaiah’s list with John’s, and threw in a name from Malachi 4:2, Sun of Righteousness, for good measure, writing:

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Maybe the very best thought for today is this: Let’s don’t just pass by such great words like a billboard on the freeway we’ve seen a hundred times. Let’s take a moment to think about the soon-coming King and all his glorious names and titles. If even one of them had been given, it would have been enough to make us fall on our knees and worship, as did the wise men. The title that drew them on a long, dangerous journey to the baby was “king of the Jews (Mt. 2:2).”

He is that – and so much more.

SONG: Hark the Herald Angles Sing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsinjDvpKQY   

PRAYER: Oh God, help us pay attention to all the names and titles of the little baby John gave such big names to: the Word, the Life, the Light.