The Love Light in His Eyes

A Christmas Thought

The Love Light in His Eyes

December 25, 2010

By Dennis S. Hankins

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

What love is bestowed upon us this Christmas morn. The purest of all love is wrapped first in swaddling cloths, and sleeps in a manger. This morning, we will try to replicate that love, and give one another gifts; gifts wrapped in the glorious colors of Christmas.

After two thousand years, it is hard to understand how it is the world may not know him. Yet it was into a cruel and dark world Jesus came on that first Christmas. In fact, a tyrant Roman King, tried to kill him at the outset. At age 33 he will be bruised for our sins and wounded for our transgressions. Yet like a sheep, he will not open his mouth; a thief will speak in his defense. A centurion will confess that he is the Son of God. And Mary and John will receive him from the cross and wrap him in a burial cloth.

The reason the world does not know us is because it did not know him. But this lack of perception does not nullify a simple yet profound truth: God's love has made us his children. What manner of love is this? It is a love that fills a dark world with imperishable light. But it is not a light of condemnation, rather the rays of this light draw us toward what is good and perfect. Some may resist its power, but in the end, God's light of love prevails. The greatest power in the world, is the love light that shines from that manger in Bethlehem.

And the same love light shines today. It shines through you and me to remind the world that there is something greater than sin; there is something more powerful than betrayal. It is even stronger than death. It is God's love light that shines today. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And the glory shone all around!

When the shepherds found him, they found him as the angel had said, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and lying in a manger. And looking down into that manger, their eyes looked into the face of God, and they saw the love light in his eyes. Amen.