The light shines in the darkness

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.

The gospels of Matthew and Luke open with the telling of the birth of Jesus. The gospel of Mark jumps any account of the birth to begin with the baptism of Jesus at the start of his ministry. The gospel of John does not tell about the birth of Jesus, instead it opens with what is called “The Prologue” (John 1:1-18) which puts the story of Jesus into a much larger context. A context that begins with creation.  

The opening of the gospel of John parallels the opening of Genesis 1 – “In the beginning…” The Word (who is Jesus) was in the beginning with God – this theme of Jesus existing before the creation – in fact Jesus being active in creation – appears a number of times in the New Testament. Two examples are Colossians 1:15-20 and Hebrews 1:1-4. Jesus was not present at the creation as some kind of bystander, rather Jesus was a full participant in the creation (“without him not one thing came into being” vs. 3).  

Jesus brings life and light to the creation. Life and light stand in contrast to the death and dark that so often are present in our world. Life and light point to the good and the hope that God intended for the world to be like. That light of Jesus still shines, shines in the darkness, shines hope into the midst of the darkness. And every attempt by the darkness to extinguish the light has failed. The hope and the promise present in creation still exists in the light and life that Jesus brings to the world.

Christmas reminds us that no matter how dark the darkness is, no matter how deep the despair, the light of Jesus still shines, shines in the darkness and nothing can stop his light from shining. With that light present in our world, we live in hope.    

PRAYER:

God of grace and glory, your light shines in Jesus Christ, a light that nothing can stop. We rejoice that in the light of Jesus Christ, we find hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.