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see the LIGHT!

John 1:3-5
"3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
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."

We should read these first verses in Gospel of John as Christmas verses. They are as insightful and informative as the birth narrative we studied in the Gospel of Luke. We marvel at the details Mary shared with Luke. We also understand that Mary must have shared information with John too. Could her experiences have influenced these verses? I think so.

In these verses we get profound theological insights. John starts with the famous words “In the beginning,” connecting to the opening of the Book of Genesis and the creation narrative. It highlights that Jesus is the divine Logos (Word) who was with God and was God from the beginning, and who became flesh and dwelt among us. 

All Christmas season we decorate with lights and celebrate Jesus as the "Light of the World." Here we read John's lesson on Jesus illuminating the world despite the presence of darkness, in other words, sin and evil. The light, which brings life and hope, remains unvanquished by the darkness, indicating that Jesus’ message and presence cannot be extinguished by the world’s wickedness. And that is the heart and soul of what Christmas is all about.
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