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not the darkness

John 1:4&5
"4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

This week we are studying Jesus being the Light of the world. In these opening verses of the Gospel of John, Jesus is at the creation of the universe! Plainly stating that Jesus is GOD. Keeping this in mind when thinking about the swaddling baby in Mary and Joseph's arms makes the manger scene all that MORE INCREDIBLE!

We take comfort and joy in the birth of Jesus. As we should. Christmas is a HAPPY time. But, it's not always filled with merriment. Even at this moment, the Slaughter of the Innocents is a shadowy presence in the background. It's just like our world, filled with darkness. Bombings. Shootings. Fires. Disasters. Illness. Enmity of all kinds and so much more. What we can experience or think of is just the tip of the iceberg. Most of us don't want to be a part of this muck and mire. We know we are not exempt from experiencing the darkness of our world. The Christmas story tells us we do not belong to the darkness. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

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