Today we will be looking at Silent Night, Holy Night. According to some sources, it has the distinction of being the most recorded song in history. If you think about the lyrics of the song, each stanza of the song progressively reveals more and more about the significance of this child who is sleeping in heavenly peace. In the first stanza Jesus is described as a “holy infant”. But in the second stanza, the heavenly messengers of Luke 2 are described, and this holy infant is identified clearly as “Christ [the Messiah], the Saviour.”

But it's the third stanza that reveals the full significance of the Christmas story:      

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light                                                                         

Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face                                                                      

With the dawn of redeeming grace,                                                                  

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!                                                                                

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!

Behind these words is the truth of God's word. We will be studying these truths in John's Gospel, chapter 1.

1. The True Beginning of the Christmas Story (v. 1-3)
2. The True Meaning of the Christmas Story (v. 4-5)
3. The True Blessing of Christ (v. 14-18)

The baby of Christmas was God in human flesh. From John 1:1 to John 1:18, the writer helps us to understand that Jesus is the son of God. The light that is shining in the darkness that John is speaking of in verse 5, is Jesus Christ.

Christ (the Word) has been the focus of John chapter 1. In verse 14 we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The fact that Jesus was “full of grace and truth” is the key concept addressed in verses 16–17. Our turning from God has led us into the darkness. But the gift of Christmas is the gift of light. It's the gift of life. Jesus is full of grace, and from that fullness, we receive grace and more grace. God is inviting us this year, to step into his light. To find hope, healing, and restoration. To leave the darkness behind and live in God’s light for His glory and our joy!