The Christ Light: On the Meaning and Purpose of Life

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At the climax of the service, each child receives a lighted Christingle and in the magical moment of the darkened Church, the visual symbol tells the truth of the Christmas story, - that in the darkness of the world there has shined a great light. In the darkness, with the lighted Christingle, the children often sing the Traditional Moravian Carol: Morning Star, O Cheering sight. The symbolism gradually developed and today in the Moravian Church in Britain, the Christingle consists of an orange representing the World, with the candle inserted in the centre and lit to represent Christ the Light of the World. The custom of the Christingle began in the Moravian Church and was first used as part of a Christmas Children's Festival in the Marienborn Congregation in Germany on the 24th December 1747. is in LXX. used for תִִשיב, לָכַר, and מָצָא, and in many places in the New Testament has its ordinary classical sense, "lay hold of," "apprehend," "comprehend," "understand," "come to know," intelligo, and cognosco ( Ephesians 3:18), though in this latter sense it is mostly used in the middle voice. Every year thousands of churches now hold special Christingle services or celebrations between Advent and Candlemas. Christingle, which means 'Christ Light', is a symbol of the Christian faith. During the service each child is presented with a Christingle - an orange decorated with a candle, red ribbon, fruit and sweets. The orange represents the world, the red ribbon around it the blood of Christ, the fruit symbolises God's creation and the candle Jesus, the Light of the World. The Christingle Story

The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" ( Genesis 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation, Genesis 1:14) in suns, stars, and solar systems brought the initial creative process to completion, as the essential condition of all organic life. The origin of light thus finds its explanation in the purpose and very nature of God whom John defines as not only the Author of light but, in an all-inclusive sense, as light itself: Those who do not know Him as Savior can do so today. Every sinner who will ever come into the eternal presence of God as His child will have repented of sin and accepted Jesus Christ, His Son, as Lord and Savior. It’s more than being a member of a church; more than being baptized, and living a good moral life. It’s a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in which we are willing to take up our cross and follow Him, no matter what.

What Do 'Messiah' and 'Jesus Christ' Mean?. Both Christ and Messiah mean anointed or anointed one". January 26, 2011. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016 . Retrieved September 17, 2018. anointing was a rite of kingship in Syria-Palestine in the fourteenth century BCE. During the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus, it might appear from the narrative of Matthew that Jesus at first refused a direct reply to the high priest Caiaphas's question: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?", where his answer is given merely as Σὺ εἶπας ( Su eipas, "You [singular] have said it"). [26] Similarly but differently in Luke, all those present are said to ask Jesus: 'Are you then the Son of God?', to which Jesus reportedly answered: Ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ( Hymeis legete hoti ego eimi, "You [plural] say that I am". [27] In the Gospel of Mark, however, when asked by Caiaphas 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?', Jesus tells the Sanhedrin: Ἐγώ εἰμι ( ego eimi, "I am"). [28] There are instances from Jewish literature in which the expression "you have said it" is equivalent to "you are right". [29] The Messianic claim was less significant than the claim to divinity, which caused the high priest's horrified accusation of blasphemy and the subsequent call for the death sentence. Before Pilate, on the other hand, it was merely the assertion of his royal dignity which gave grounds for his condemnation. [29] Pauline epistles [ edit ] Although the original followers of Jesus believed Jesus to be the Jewish messiah, e.g. in the Confession of Peter, Jesus was usually referred to as "Jesus of Nazareth" or "Jesus, son of Joseph", [11] Jesus came to be called "Jesus Christ" (meaning "Jesus the Khristós", i.e. "Jesus the Messiah" or "Jesus the Anointed") by Christians, who believe that His crucifixion and resurrection fulfill the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, especially the prophecy outlined in Isaiah 53. [12] Etymology [ edit ] Prager, Edward (2005). A Dictionary of Jewish-Christian Relations. Cambridge University Press. p.85. ISBN 0-521-82692-6.

We are self-centered and self-driven without Jesus. We come to the end of ourselves and our efforts and become overwhelmed by the natural darkness in our hearts. No one has “a good heart” in a natural state. We all fall short. Jesus came so we would experience the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s loving embrace through the wisdom of His word and our relationship with Him shed His light on others living in darkness. The concept of the Christ in Christianity originated from the concept of the messiah in Judaism. Christians believe that Jesus is the messiah foretold in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Although the conceptions of the messiah in each religion are similar, for the most part they are distinct from one another due to the split of early Christianity and Judaism in the 1st century. a) A few passages, however, refer to the light that comes chiefly to the intellect or mind through Divine instruction, e.g. Psalms 119:130, "The opening of thy words giveth light"; so Proverbs 6:23, "The law is light." Even here the instruction includes moral as well as mental enlightenment. Ehrman, Bart (2014), How Jesus became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee, Harper Collins Steffler, Alva William (2002). Symbols of the Christian faith. Wm. B. Eerdmans. p.66. ISBN 0-8028-4676-9.

Griffiths, Emma (December 22, 2004). "Why get cross about Xmas?". BBC News . Retrieved April 22, 2022. The word Christ (and similar spellings) appears in English and in most European languages. English-speakers now often use "Christ" as if it were a name, one part of the name "Jesus Christ", though it was originally a title ("the Messiah"). Its usage in "Christ Jesus" emphasizes its nature as a title. [8] [15] Compare the usage "the Christ". [16] God's favor, the light of thy countenance" ( Psalms 4:6; 44:3; 89:15), and a king's favor ( Proverbs 16:15); Fuller, Reginald H. (1965). The Foundations of New Testament Christology. New York: Scribners. ISBN 0-684-15532-X. Espin, Orlando (2007). n Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies. Liturgical Press. p.231. ISBN 978-0-8146-5856-7.

The most recent editions of Kids Connection will also be available to view. Created to complement the WELS Connection monthly video news magazine, Kids Connection encourages children and their families to “stay connected to Jesus” through Christ-centered stories and segments presented by two teenage hosts. Parents can use the September 2019 through March 2020 monthly videos at home with their children as part of their daily devotional life. O'Conner, Patricia T.; Kellerman, Stewart (2009). Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language. New York: Random House. p.77. ISBN 978-1-4000-6660-5.The National Trust has introduced two new illuminated trails this year at Kingston Lacy and Gibside. The new Ignite trails, boasting “light, lanterns, fire and fantasy”, aim to showcase features of the individual parks and gardens. Around Kingston Lacy’s elegant estate, there will be fairies in the fernery or plants lit up alongside a “magical soundscape”, which includes everything from Jingle Bells to whale music. The Georgian landscape garden at Gibside, commissioned by coal baron George Bowes, was originally designed to impress spectators. With winding paths, large wooded grounds and views across the Derwent valley, it’s another perfect venue for the ¾-mile Christmas walk-through, featuring fiery fish and willow sculptures. b) Henceforth Christians and saints were called "children of light" ( Luke 16:8; John 12:36; Ephesians 5:8), and were expected to be "seen as lights in the world" ( Philippians 2:15). God’s Word is Christocentric. The chief purpose of the Bible is to reveal God’s saving plan, which centers in Christ. watchfulhess, "Let your lights (the Revised Version (British and American) "lamps") be burning," the figure being taken from the parable of the Virgins; We often believe what the history books tell us but seldom believe what God has said from the beginning. Mankind, by nature, walks in darkness on earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With Christ abiding in our souls we can become His light of truth. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).