Christmas Lights: The Biblical Meaning
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- Nov 3
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 1
Part 1 of 4 in the “True Meaning of Christmas” Series
When I began writing my new Christmas Curriculum for Kids, I didn’t realize how deeply it would speak to me as an adult. The idea was simple: create a set of lessons that help children understand the true meaning behind our Christmas traditions—the lights, the tree, the gifts, and even Santa Claus.
But somewhere in the middle of writing the first lesson on Light, I found myself convicted. The more I painted, wrote, and prayed, the more I realized: this wasn’t just something kids needed to hear. I needed it too.
This post—the first in a four-part Go Deeper series—comes directly from that curriculum. It’s an invitation to pause and rediscover the beauty, symbolism, and sacred mystery of Christmas Light… not just the kind that glows from your tree or candles, but the Light that shone in the darkness of the world, and still does.
A Festival of Light: Christmas lights meaning something
There’s a reason we decorate Christmas with light. Everywhere you look—twinkling fairy lights, candles flickering on tables, glowing stars, fires crackling in living rooms—light is everywhere. Even the word Kersfees in Afrikaans literally means a festival of candles.
But light doesn’t only make things beautiful. It reveals. It’s what makes us see. It’s what breaks the power of darkness. That’s why Christmas, at its heart, is a festival of revelation—a celebration that the true Light has come into the world.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”— Isaiah 9:2
How beautifully Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Jesus long before He was born. At Christmastime, we celebrate that this promise was fulfilled: the Light of the World entered human history.
If you think about it, light has always been central to God’s story. In the very beginning, the first words spoken by God were, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). And now, in Jesus, those words find their ultimate echo: “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12).
Contemplate on the presence of light in the Word now and write down a few lines (or type them in your phone Notes app). Then, meet me back here and we will journey even deeper to discover the true meaning of Christmas lights.
The Scriptures of Light
In the Kids’ Curriculum, I gave facilitators several passages for deeper reflection. Let’s linger on them here as adults—listening again with open hearts:
1 John 1:5–7 – “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” → This is where it starts. Light isn’t just something God made; it’s who He is.
Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” → The light of God brings courage. When His presence fills us, fear fades.
Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” → Light guides. God’s Word shows us how to walk when we cannot see the next step.
Proverbs 4:18 – “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” → Growth in Christ is not instant—it’s gradual illumination.
Ephesians 5:8–9 – “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” → Notice the shift: we were darkness, but now we are light.
2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts.” → The same voice that created light in Genesis now creates it in us.
Matthew 5:14–16 – “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others.” → We’re not only recipients of light; we’re reflectors of it.
Why This Matters
When I first wrote this lesson for children, I wanted them to understand that the Christmas lights they see around them aren’t just decorations. They’re reminders. Reminders that Jesus is the true Light, and that His light still shines in our world today—through us.
As adults, that truth can hit even deeper. Because we know what darkness feels like. We’ve walked through grief, burnout, heartbreak, loneliness. And yet, even there—in the middle of it—Christ’s light still finds us.
He’s not intimidated by our shadows. He steps into them.
In the curriculum, I had the kids respond by covering their faces with their hands. We take it back to Genesis and see how darkness came about when Adam & Eve reached out to pick that forbidden fruit (like the red christmas ornament, from the Christmas tree - but more on that later...). There was something between people and God - they could no longer SEE His Goodness!
Jesus didn't just come randomly. We know that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth, but WHY did He come? In the curriculum, I illustrate how God has been making a perfect plan and a promise to His people since the very beginning. He would make a way. He would make it right.
The prophet Isaiah caught a glimpse of it in the curriculum's Bible memory verse: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”— Isaiah 9:2
Christmas lights signify the greatest light of all: Jesus Christ. The light of the world!
A Personal Reflection
As I painted the watercolor illustrations for the curriculum—tiny candles, shining stars, and warm Christmas string lights aglow—I realized how easily I forget the simplest truth: Light doesn’t need to fight darkness to win. It just shows up. Even as I was painting, sunrays danced through the window and dried up the watercolor to reveal its true deeper colors.
The same is true in our lives. We don’t overcome darkness by trying harder, but by abiding closer.
And that’s where I sensed God whispering again, “Abide in Me.” The very phrase that inspired the name Vine Creative Studio.
Maybe that’s why this first lesson feels so foundational—it’s the beginning point of all transformation. We can only reflect what we stay close to. We are like mirrors reflecting His light to the world out there. We are stars reflecting Him, the Son...
It's funny to me that Christmas lights are often the first thing we put up. We see them in stores from as early as October - the light comes first. And, like Paul, who encountered Jesus first as that blinding light, each one of us also need to catch a glimpse of His glorious light first.
Sharing the Light
If this reflection stirred something in you, can I gently encourage you to share the Light in your own circles?
Perhaps you can facilitate a conversation and share this post with someone when you hang up Christmas lights at work or at church. Or perhaps you can invite a friend to join your family this Christmas, so that they, too, can experience this light-filled feast.
🌟 For parents: Imagine sitting around the table or Christmas tree with your children, opening this simple yet meaningful curriculum together. It’s designed to help little hearts grasp the Gospel through stories and hands-on art. Explore the Christmas Curriculum →
🌟 For teachers and ministry leaders: Each lesson is short, visual, and easy to use. Perfect for kids’ church, Christian schools, or Sunday classes leading up to Christmas. It helps kids encounter truth through beauty. Download or share it here →
🌟 For the fun aunt or uncle: You don’t need to be a teacher to share Jesus. Print a few of my coloring pages, light a candle, and read a short story from the guide with the kids you love. It might be one of their most meaningful Christmas memories. One of the coloring pictures is designed to also function as a placemat at the Christmas meal.
🌟 For you: Maybe you just need to pause and remember that His light still shines over your own life. The same God who said “Let there be light” speaks those words again over your heart today. In the places where you feel abandoned, let there be light. In all the ways you feel far from Him and like you cannot see His goodness, let there be light.
A Prayer
Father of Lights, Thank You for the radiance of Jesus that breaks through the darkness in my heart and home. When my own faith feels dim, help me to draw near to Your light again— to rest in Your warmth and reflect Your love. Let my life be a candle lit by Your grace. And this Christmas, may Your light shine through me to the next generation. Amen.
May you continue to abide in the Vine, becoming more and more like Him, until your life glows quietly with the light of His presence. 🌿
Let's chat in the comments: What other Scriptures of light came to mind as you read this? Is there anything else you'd add?
Read next: THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS TREES
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