Let me give you a little Bible 'pop quiz' on this cold Friday morning:

Can you list each of the seven "I Am" sayings of Jesus? Now, no cheating. . . no Googling or checking your New Testaments. How many can you name?

Well, I'll go ahead and give you one of them because if figures very prominently in our celebration of Advent. In John 8:12, our Lord declared, "I am the light of the world."

Of course, Christmas is a season of lights! In every neighborhood across our city the beautiful lights of Christmas illuminate the streets and homes, and our downtown is also full of festive lights of every color that announce the season of Advent.

The connection of lights to Christmastime is sounded by the Apostle John who tells us that in Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, "was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). This is why Simeon, holding the newborn Savior in this arms, quoted the inspired words of the prophet Isaiah, and identified Jesus as the One who had come to be, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:32).

Each year, as we decorate our Christmas tress and our homes with the lights of Advent, we should think of this great "I am" saying of Jesus.

But what does it mean? Why would Jesus identify Himself with "light"? What is the significance of "light" in the unfolding plan of redemption in Scriptures? Why is "light" so prominent in our language of Christmas?

This coming Lord's Day, the fourth Sunday of Advent, we will search the word of God for our answers!