Are you having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year? As war grinds on in Ukraine and Israel and Gaza, as our Federal government grinds to a halt in partisan bickering, and as violence continues to explode in American streets, it’s easy to see why we might have trouble rejoicing at the angels’ announcement of peace on earth. Yes, Jesus has come to be with us, but where’s the peace?

Well, let’s think again about Who Jesus is. As John 1:1-2 points out, He is the Word through Whom God spoke the universe into existence. He is the One responsible for bringing light and life into the world, no matter how powerful the forces of death and darkness might seem to be (1:4-5).

And even though sin seems to have won, corrupting God’s good creation and dooming all of Adam’s descendants to death, Jesus is the One Who has given all of us a chance for a new beginning. As He was born to Mary, He took on flesh and lived among us, displaying the glory of God in a way that we can all understand (1:14). And instead of punishing all of us for our rebellion against Him, for refusing to receive Him (1:11), He has given us grace (1:16), extending His royal pardon to all who trust in Him, adopting us into His own family (1:12), and thus bringing peace between God and man.

So, do you want some hope in this Christmas season? Are you longing for peace? Open your eyes to the light of Christ (1:9). Turn away from all the darkness, the greed and the lies that swirl around us and marvel instead at His grace and truth (1:14). For no matter what this godless world may say or do, Jesus is the only true source of light. And He has come to bring us life (1:4).

John 1:1-18 (NASB)

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 by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'”
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.