- The Earth was Enveloped in Darkness - Lured by the wrong master, humankind feasted at the tables of evil. Life was cheap. Misery was rampant. Even God's chosen ones, born for a destiny higher than the stars, focused their eyes on nothing. Then God acted.
- Into the Darkness, the Redeemer Came - In Jesus of Nazareth, the devil met its Master and darkness was dispelled. The prophecy of old was fulfilled. The light had come, and it shined everywhere.
- It pierced the veil that stood between heaven and earth, and the humble saw God.
- It focused upon an obedient Son, and the mortals saw man.
- It flashed into the chambers where distorted truths dwelled, and the "open-minded" saw error.
- It shined against a treasure chest filled with eternal jewels, and humankind saw truth.
- And one of its beams centered upon a cross, and the "longing" and the "meek" saw a savior.
As the Word made flesh, as authentic man, as spokesman to distortion, as teacher and as Savior, Jesus was the light of the world. The light was welcomed by some, for it gave them relief from the heartaches, the misery, and the despair that had followed in the wake of the darkness. But the light had another effect. As it fell upon others, they scampered for the shelter of darkness, lest the dazzling light expose the sore in their souls, the stains on their hearts, and the blood on their hands. And sinful people, furious with rage over the invasion of God's light into human affairs, led the Christ to a cross and crucified him.
- A Victory in the Darkness - God, however, turned this evil deed into a victory. By divine-ordained plan, the tiny hands of an infant, born in Bethlehem's manger, reached out and found a cross on which to bear the sins of the world. Christ died for the very thing which brought him death. He attacked sin, and sin attacked him in turn; and for the moment, it appeared that darkness had won the battle. But not so! Evil's triumph was ended. The tide had turned. The dark news of Calvary turned into the good news of an empty tomb. Neither sin, nor death, nor the vast powers of the devil had been able to extinguish the light. He lives!.
- Christ is King Because of a Cross - Strange indeed that a Sovereign should reign from a piece of blood-stained wood. But it is so! Christ's cross is his throne. Here is the rallying point for his subjects where all can come to find life and light and to enter a kingdom which has no end. And as the shadow of the Sovereign's throne stretches across the globe, it is the everlasting reminder that a light has come into the darkness which no force will ever put out. Christ still lives. The light continues to shine!
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Lesson 7 and its symbolism:
- Dark clouds hovering over earth - Enslaved by the forces of evil, God's good earth was enveloped in darkness.
- Manger scene - Into this darkness, the Redeemer came.
- Golden light surrounding the Christ child - As the Word made flesh, as authentic man, as spokesman to distortion, as teacher, and as Savior, this herald and Redeemer from God brought the divine light of the ages to bear upon the shadows that robbed mortals of life and light. Darkness was dispersed and shadows dispelled.
- Cross and thorns - A sinful people, angered by the invasion of God's light into human affairs, led the Christ to a cross and crucified him.
- White clouds and beam of light - God, however, turned this evil deed into a victory.
- Infant hands and crucifed hands - By divine-ordained plan, the tiny hands of an infant, born in Bethlehem's manger, reached out and found a cross on which to bear the sins of the world.
- Golden crown - Now and forever Christ is king because of a cross. Through his sufffering and death on this instrument of torture, Christ redeemed the lost and ushered believers into a kingodm which has no end.
- Ring of light encircling globe - In his life, his death, and resurrection, Christ demonstrated that he was what he claimed to be, "the light of the world."
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