John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
We think of Christmas as a time of dazzling lights and festive decorations, Jesus was not born into such an atmosphere. The truth is He was born during a period the world was in spiritual darkness.
The Word of God had not been heard during four centuries since Malachi was written many years before Christ was born. But it had been prophesied John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ would come and preach a message of repentance in the wilderness of Judea. In one sense the people lived as exiles in their own nation, while being controlled by cruel, harsh Roman rulers; therefore they lived in political darkness. And they were a divided nation: of Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.
Much more could be written concerning the darkness into which Jesus was born, but those people living in darkness truly need the Light of Jesus to guide them.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, many individuals in our modern world are living in darkness. Help this message bring a bit of light to some people who are trying to find their direction way through darkness and despair. Since Jesus made that possible, we thank You in His name, Amen
