THE WATCH BEGINS!

Scripture Lesson: Luke 21: 25-36

Object: A candle

Boys and Girls, This is the first Sunday in Advent. One of the things that many churches do
is to light Advent Candles. These candles help us to prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Light is the symbol of Christmas, isn't it? We see tree lights, candlelights, as well as stars on top of Christmas trees. It is a beautiful symbol that in the darkness of winter the light of Christmas still shines. It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. Actually, modern science has helped us to
appreciate the wonder of light even more than the people back then when they said that Jesus
was the light of the world. They only had candlelight, firelight, and light from oil lamps. They had
the sun, of course--the greatest light of all--and then the moon at night with its faint light. They
didn't have light bulbs, headlights, motion pictures, televisions and all the different ways we use
light today.

One of the most exciting developments today is a use of light that you've heard about.   It's called a laser. A laser beam is very powerful, and yet, it's only light that has been amplified and concentrated to a great extreme. It's so powerful, though, they are using lasers in weapons. They use lasers to cut diamonds, the hardest substance we have. Most wonderfully of all, they're using lasers in surgery to actually help people get well. So, when we say Jesus is the light of the world, we can see a lot more to that than the people who lived in Bible times could see. We know that not only can light warm and make the world brighter, we also know that light is powerful. Light can heal. Jesus is all those things. Jesus brings warmth, and He makes things brighter, but He also is powerful and He is the source of healing. So, I couldn't bring a laser beam with me this morning, but I hope you'll realize that a candlelight is but a symbol of all the light in the   world and all the ways God uses light. It's also a symbol of Jesus who is the light of the world.

Dear Jesus we thank you that you came as a light to the world.  You show us the way in the dark places of life.  You put a glow within each of us.  Thank you.   Amen.