Every family celebrates Christmas at least a little different way.

And the gospel writers are no different than we are. As they wrote biographies, stories that attempted to showcase the identity and significance of Jesus, they each remembered Christmas—the day that Jesus entered this world—in their own special ways. - Matthew tells us about Joseph who was visited by an angel who informed him about the son his wife was going to give birth to, and he tells us about the Magi who recognized the baby Jesus as King of the Jews once he was born. - Mark’s gospel actually doesn’t mention anything about Jesus’ birth. Instead, he begins his story about Jesus with John the Baptist—Jesus’ cousin who prepared the way for him by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. - Luke gives us the classic, most detailed Christmas story, that you’ve seen acted out in children’s plays Luke tells of angels visiting Mary and her sister Elizabeth letting them know that they’re going to bear children. Then he tells us—you probably know the King James Version of this line — “It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.”

And then there comes John’s gospel which we heard a few minutes ago. He doesn’t mention angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, or wise men. John assumes that we already know those stories.

And instead of retelling them from his perspective, he gives us an introduction to his story about Jesus that is full of poetry, images, and metaphors. And all of them help summarize the significance of Jesus’ mission and entrance into the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:1–5

John reminds us that at Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus
is the light of the world who came to extinguish all darkness.

Here in in the opening sentences of his biography of Jesus, John starts with telling us in this poetic language that Jesus was present at creation. He isn’t merely a man who had a humble birth in a stable. Jesus is God.

At creation that Jesus gave light and life to everything we know. What’s the first words God spoke? “Let there be light.” I believe (especially after studying 1 John this fall) that God created light first because it most clearly reflects who He is. Even using the word “reflects” there shows it’s importance. Everything we know, everything we are, is because there is a Light, and that light was the light of man.

The first act of creation was the creation of light. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1 v 3). The world was in darkness. God spoke and there was light. God’s word brought light to darkness. Wherever and whenever God speaks, the result is light.

Tim Chester, The One True Light

And in the beginning, the world was full of life, it was full of light. God the Father through Jesus created humanity in his image so that we could be in relationship with him. He made us stewards over all of creation. And he created us to be in relationship with other people. Everything was good and full of light.

If the story stopped there, we wouldn’t be here celebrating Jesus’ birth today. We know that everything didn’t remain as God created it. Instead, Adam and Eve broke relationship with God when they disobeyed him. Immediately, they went and hid in the darkness so that they wouldn’t have to face God. But God sought them out because he didn’t want them to be in the shadows, living in darkness.

For thousands of years God tried to help his people move back into the light. He gave the people of Israel light through the law and through his covenant promises, but they continued to live in darkness and disobedience. So through the prophets he promised his people a Messiah, a Savior, a liberator who would shine light into the darkness and enable people to walk in light.

And in the fullness of time, God sent his only son into the world to fulfill these roles. On the very first Christmas day, Jesus was born into a world of darkness so that he could bring an end to darkness. And the darkness was thick.

LABOR OF LOVE

That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:5, 9

WHAT CHILD IS THIS

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14