Pentecostal Lights

Pastor. James

Beyond the Manger: Three Profound Meanings of Christmas Light You May Have Never Considered

The traditional Christmas story is a source of comfort and familiarity. We know the scenes by heart: a humble manger, watchful shepherds, and wise men journeying from afar. The imagery is powerful, often bathed in the soft glow of a guiding star. But what if the recurring theme of "light" in this story is more than just a beautiful metaphor?

Beneath the surface of the familiar nativity lies a deeper, more profound spiritual reality. This article distills three surprising takeaways from a Christmas sermon that reframes the story from a simple historical event into a powerful, multi-layered spiritual truth. It invites us to look beyond the manger and see the cosmic significance of the light that dawned on that day—a light that shines into two worlds at once.

1. Christmas Unfolds in Two Parallel Worlds: The Present and The World to Come

The Christmas story is not just about a single event in one location. It is a divine intervention that takes place simultaneously in two parallel realms, represented by the biblical figures of Esau and Jacob.

Esau’s world, described as the "present world"—the physical, external realm of action, struggle, and the field. This is a world the sermon calls "chaotic", a wilderness that desperately needs redeeming. In contrast, Jacob’s world, is the "world to come"—an internal, spiritual realm of divine order and inheritance. Jacob is described not as a man of the field, but as (a man of character) and (a "dweller in tents"), signifying a life oriented toward the sacred space of the temple.

Jesus’s birth as the "Light of the World" was the targeted divine intervention to bring order to the chaos of Esau’s present world while simultaneously establishing the spiritual reality of Jacob’s world to come. This elevates the Christmas message from a story about a single moment in time to a cosmic event that bridges our chaotic present with a promised spiritual future.

2. "Light" Is a Three-Stage Journey, Not Just a Simple Metaphor

The sermon presents a powerful framework for understanding "light" not as a single idea, but as an active, three-part spiritual process involving Creation, Formation, and Action. This process works in both realms simultaneously: the external action for Esau’s world, and the internal creation and formation for Jacob’s.

The external of Esau’s world - the world now.

• Stage 1: Creation. New creation in Christ for good works- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Matthews 5:14-16.

• Stage 2: Formation- choice of good works Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

• Stage 3: Action This is the final, visible stage for Esau’s world, where the inner light of creation and formation shines outward. It is the tangible result of the first two stages, manifested through our good works.

The internal of Jacob’s world- the world top come.

• Stage 1: Creation (The Unifying Light). This is the primordial light from Genesis 1:3 that first brought order out of chaos. Spiritually, this is the light that makes us a "new creation" in Christ, unifying all people and breaking down all barriers.

• Stage 2: Formation (The Lights of Renewal and Righteousness). This stage is represented by the creation of the sun and moon, which govern the shaping of our spiritual lives. The moon is connected to the spiritual cycles of renewal and rebirth . It represents the necessary process of repentance, confession, and turning back to God. The sun , in contrast, represents recovery and restoration —the unwavering, active pursuit of holy living. Formation is not a passive stage, but a spiritual discipline involving both repentance (the moon) and active righteousness (the sun).

• Stage 3: Action (The Manifested Light). This is the final, visible stage where the inner light of creation and formation shines outward. It is the tangible result of the first two stages, manifested through our good works. Eph 5:19.

The sermon directly links believers to this final stage of action, reminding them of their purpose:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Eph 5:8-10

This framework transforms the idea of "being a light" from a passive state into an active, three-part spiritual discipline that begins in the spiritual realm and culminates in the physical one.

3. The True Gifts Are Not Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh, But Goodness, Righteousness, and Truth

The sermon’s most powerful conclusion reinterprets our ultimate response to Christ's birth by placing it firmly in Jacob's spiritual realm. It begins by explaining a profound failure in the old system of worship. God had established two key offerings: the sin offering and the burnt offering. Their purpose was not merely ritualistic; it was to cultivate inner character. The sin offering was meant to produce humility, and the burnt offering was meant to produce self-negation ("not I").

However, the people lost this inner meaning. They performed the sacrifices externally, but their hearts lacked true humility and submission. The offerings became empty.

This failure of external rituals is precisely why a new kind of offering was needed. The birth of Jesus ("a body was prepared for me") was God's answer. His perfect life of humility and submission to God's will fulfilled the true spiritual intent of the sacrifices, rendering the empty rituals obsolete.

In this new reality, our response is no longer an external sacrifice but an internal transformation. We are now called to offer the "fruit of the light," identified in Ephesians 5:9 as the true gifts we bring to Christ:

• Goodness

• Righteousness

• Truth

In a profound spiritual parallel, these three internal fruits are the true substance behind the Magi's three physical gifts. This is deeply impactful because it shifts the entire focus of Christmas giving from material exchange to the cultivation of inner character—the very character the old sacrifices were always meant to produce.

Conclusion: How Will You Shine?

As we journey from the familiar nativity scene, we discover these deeper spiritual realities. The light of Christmas is more than a star over a stable; it is a cosmic event that bridges our present chaos with a future hope, a three-stage journey of personal transformation, and an invitation to offer the most valuable gifts of all. It is a call to participate in this grand story of renewal, cultivating a life that produces the true gifts of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

This Christmas, as you see the lights all around you, which fruit of the light will you choose to cultivate as your gift to the world?