The Christ Candle

Luke 1:35
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2007 Harold Dinsmore

                I like to place myself into the character of biblical models from time to time.  By doing so, one can begin to feel the experience of what it night have been like to live to be a Moses or a John the Baptist or even a Mary and Joseph.  We have been discussing the candles of hope, love, peace and joy last few weeks, but today we come to the central candle.  The most important memory we are to prick and relive.  That pure, white candle in the middle is the Christ candle.

               The candle reminds us of several things and we will be looking at a few of them this morning, but before we do, let us slip into character.  In our passage this morning, we read once again the visit Mary received by the angel Gabriel.  In Luke 1:26 we pick up we story.  We discover that the angel announces to her the impending conception, pregnancy and birth of the one to be known as the Son of the Most High.

               She is perplexed and confused at the words of this messenger and questions the possibility of such an occurrence in verse 34.  Then the angel says this to her in verse 35, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”  Can you now try to imagine her feelings?  Number one, to have such a visitor would be enough to rattle anyone.  But then for such a message to be delivered, could anyone really fathom such a thing, especially when you consider the pathological development of mankind at this point in history?  It must have seemed outrageous to her.  Then we discover that Joseph, in Matthew 1:18-25, was receiving the same information from God.