Coming like a shaft of light

‘In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.’ John 1.4-9 One of the most amazing things about the Christian message is that the eternal Son of God became incarnate. John chapter 1, which we often read at Christmas, describes him coming as a shaft of light; like a ray of light. The Word came and brought light into a dark, dark world. This is a world, darkened by ignorance: without Christ we would not know where we have come from or where we are going or why we are here at all. We would be ignorant of meaning and truth. But with Christ our minds become enlightened - the light comes on. Our understanding is illuminated. Like a light bulb being switched on, mankind can begin to see and understand. We can have knowledge about life and do not have to be ignorant any more. This is also a world darkened by sin. There is undeniable evil in the world: immorality; lawlessness; hatred; greed; selfishness; darkness. There is rebellion against God. But with Christ there is a pure, clear light that dispels the darkness. His light has come into the world to chase away the darkness. You cannot have light and darkness together. Yes this is a dark world. But the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The light is of course the person of Jesus. He has come into the world, says the apostle John. We have seen him, he continues. ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth’ (John 1.14). John claims that the Word became flesh, that God became a man. He became someone he knew well - Jesus of Nazareth. John makes an appeal to us. “I have seen him and the apostles have seen him. Trust me, I was with him,” he says. The light has indeed come into the darkness of this world. If you had lived 2000 years ago you could have seen God. You could have touched him. And that is the apostle John’s point. He did see God. He saw and touched the eternal Word. He was an eye-witness to Christ. I hope this is the Jesus you believe in. I hope you don’t just have a vague belief in a god out there somewhere. I want you to have (John wants you to have) a steady trust in the Jesus of history, the Jesus that John knew, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word who really did come from the Father full of grace and truth. He came to bring his light. He came to bring his goodness and righteousness. This dark world is not all there is.