Today's Daily Bread
Christingle
In the Czech Republic and other places, the Christmas celebration
includes “Christingles.” A Christingle is an orange, representing the
world, with a candle placed in the top of it to symbolize Christ the
light of the world. A red ribbon encircles the orange, symbolizing the
blood of Jesus. Four toothpicks with dried fruits are placed through the
ribbon into the sides of the orange, representing the fruits of the
earth.
This simple visual aid vividly represents the purpose behind Christ’s
coming—to bring light into the darkness and to redeem a broken world by
shedding His blood.
In John’s account of Christ’s life, the disciple describes Jesus as
the Light of the world. He wrote of Christ: “That was the true Light
which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9). Not
only did Christ the Light come to penetrate our world’s darkness, but He
is also “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (v.29).
Think of it! The baby of Bethlehem became the living, risen Christ
who has rescued us from our sin. And so John instructs us to “walk in
the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). May all who have
experienced His rescue find in Jesus the peace of walking in His light.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight. —Brooks
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight. —Brooks
The newborn Christ-child became the Light of the world and the Lamb of God.
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