Three Realities That Can Make Even the Worst Christmas Great
Don't let the bustle of the holidays cause you to lose sight of what's most important, and don't let the pain of past memories ruin the hope you have in Christ.
While Christmas is a difficult time for some, it is also a time of joy, reflection, and profound celebration for those who have placed their faith in Christ.
Today, it's fitting we pause from our daily devotional series and go back to the gospel of John. As Timothy Keller notes, “While the other gospels focus on the facts of Christmas, John focuses on the meaning of Christmas.” In John 1:1-5, we are introduced to the true essence of Christmas and the reality that Jesus is the Word, the Life, and the Light. John writes,
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
Jesus Is the Word
By calling Jesus the “Word” (Logos), John bridges cultural gaps, reaching both Jews, who understood the Word as the personification of God's will, and Greeks, who saw Logos as the logic that connected God to creation. Jesus, the eternal Logos, is not merely a messenger of God but is God himself. He was present at creation, and through him, “all things were created” (Colossians 1:16).
Jesus did not come into existence at Bethlehem. He is eternal, uncreated, and divine. His incarnation—taking on flesh—is not an afterthought but God’s eternal plan to redeem humanity. As 1 Peter 1:20 says of Christ, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you." The birth of Christ reminds us that God’s love and redemptive purposes are timeless.
Jesus Is the Life
“In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4, CSB). Jesus doesn’t just offer life; he is life—physical, spiritual, and eternal. Throughout John’s Gospel, this theme is emphasized. John 10:10 says Jesus came to offer “life to the full," bringing renewal to a creation marred by sin.
Eternal life, as John teaches, is not merely a distant promise but a present relationship with Jesus himself. “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent—Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). When we receive Jesus, we transition from merely existing to truly living in the abundant, purpose-filled life he offers.
Jesus Is the Light
The life Jesus gives is also the light that pierces through darkness. John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it." In a world overshadowed by sin, suffering, and despair, Jesus’ light brings hope, clarity, and truth. Isaiah prophesied of this light in Isaiah 9:2 when he wrote: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness."
Christians are called to reflect this light. When Christ shines in our hearts, it dispels fear, doubt, and despair, empowering us to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14-16).
A Reason to Celebrate
As believers in Christ, the reason we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the power light has over darkness. We celebrate knowing our word became flesh. Flesh that would be beaten, marred, and brutally murdered on a cross of shame. We celebrate that through his death, we can have eternal life and live with the light of God in our hearts.
Maybe this Christmas is a great one for you. Maybe it's hard. But regardless of where you're at, place your hope in the Word, the Life, and the Light. Don't let the bustle of the holidays cause you to lose sight of what's most important, and don't let the pain of past memories ruin the hope you have in Christ.
