John 1:1-5
In the beginning, the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

The man who wrote this, the apostle John, was one of Jesus' closest friends. We believe he wrote this towards the end of his life. Which means he had seen the power of Christ at work for decades.

As John planted churches and shared the teachings of Jesus he saw life after life after life transformed by encountering the Word - by encountering Jesus.

Which is why he doesn't just tell a heartwarming story of a baby in an animal's food trough. He tells a story of the very light which animates the universe becoming human to awaken us to a new way to live.

John 1:10-14
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

That's what John talks about. He tells us there is LIGHT. He paints the picture of the birth of Jesus being like the flaring of a torch in a pitch-black cave. Of a sunrise over a world shrouded in night.

This brings comfort and joy because it means we don't have to be afraid of the dark anymore!