My favorite Christmas account in the Bible is always from John.  Listen to what it says in John 1: 1-5:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

We are used to thinking about Matthew’s retelling, which gives us so much insight into what Jospeph was thinking, or Luke’s which sheds a light on Mary, and then gives us the beautiful account of the manger. 

But I always like John’s.  John’s Christmas account doesn’t have all the familiar scenes we think of, shepherds and wise men. But John’s story gives a cosmic element to it. 

There is great darkness.  Darkness that overwhelms. Darkness that seems to encompass everything. Darkness that is thick and wrong and evil. And this darkness seems too much to overcome, it seems too great to too strong.  

Ever felt that way?  Do you feel that way now? Do you feel like it is too much to overcome today?  I know I often feel that way. I know it often seems like that is reality. 

In this darkness, however, light has come. And the darkness has not overcome it. The light that has come is the very Word of God. God’s very self, born as a babe, to a young virgin mother, born into a dark world. 

But this light that was born has overcome that darkness. As great as the darkness is, the light is greater. The darkness has not overcome the light. 

The darkness will not overcome the light. 

The light will always triumph over the darkness. That is not a fiction made up of childrens’ fairytales but is truth. Because the light is the Truth. He is the very son of God, given to free the world, and me and you, from our sins and from our darkness.  

He is Emmanuel, God with us.  

The Light has come, and the darkness did not overcome it. Praise God!  

No matter how dark it may seem now, light always wins.  That is Christmas. That is what we celebrate and that is what we cling to. Praise God for the miracle of the light.  

Merry Christmas to you all! 

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