Last December 2, 2016 between fifteen thousand to twenty thousand people witnessed the switching on of Christmas lights and fireworks display at Central Philippine University. This event spearheaded by the CPU Alumni Association was started many years ago not just to attract people to the campus of CPU but more so to draw people to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.

Why is Jesus called the Light of the world (John 8:12)? It is very interesting to note that in Genesis 1:3 the first command of God was “Let there be light.” In the New Testament Jesus was called as “the true Light that gives light to every person” (John 1:9). Theologically, we can see the reason behind the first command of God. Genesis 1:2 says “the earth was formless, empty and in darkness…” It was the Light that gave the world meaning, form and sense. Moreover, John 1:4 connects light with life – that without Jesus, there will be no life. This means that without Jesus Christ our lives will be without form, meaningless and in the dark.

Another interesting fact is that this theological assertion is supported by a scientific explanation. https://theplanets.org/the-sun/ says that “the Sun provides a vital ingredient for most of the life on Earth. Without the energy provided through sunlight, vegetation cannot grow, and without vegetation animals do not have a source of nourishment.” Furthermore, http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/sun declares that the Sun’s “gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest particles of debris in its orbit.”

Indeed, without Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, we will never have a meaningful life. Let us be witnesses of the Light!

Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Acting Director
Office of Communications
Central Philippine University