Introduction
As Christmas approaches, lights appear everywhere: in the streets, in shop windows, on trees, in windows. We often look at them as nothing more than seasonal decoration. But what if those lights told a much bigger story than a month of December? What if they were the symbol of a person?
In this Christmas message, David Pothier opens the Gospel of John and offers a different reading of the birth of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell of the manger, the shepherds, the wise men. John sums up all of Christmas in a single image: a light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not put it out.
What you are about to read is not a seasonal tale. It is good news that touches your life today, in what you are going through, in what you carry in silence, in what you sometimes call "my darkness."
Outline of the Message
1. The World Is in Darkness, and Sometimes the Darkness Is in Us
At the time of Jesus's birth, the world was dark. King Herod abused his power. Families were torn apart, refugees fled oppression, poverty and homelessness struck many people. Twenty centuries later, it still looks a lot like today.
Faced with this darkness, we all try to bring a little light. We turn to experts, education, economic development, science, innovation. We tell ourselves that with enough effort, we will finally overcome poverty, injustice, violence and evil. But we never manage it. The light we try to manufacture from below is never enough to light up the world.
And there is something worse than a world in darkness. It is when the darkness is inside you. Some call it darkness, others call it depression, others still speak of their inner demons. No outward success can drive that darkness away.
2. Light Gives Life
When God created all things, the Bible says that "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the surface" (Genesis 1:2). Then God said, "Let there be light. And there was light." Before the light, everything was dark, empty, formless. After the light, what was formless was formed, what was empty was filled, what was dark was lit up.
No light, no life. Wildlife, plants and human beings need light to live. That is physical, that is biological. But it is also a picture of a deeper reality: just as your body needs sunlight, your soul needs the light of God.
Without that light, hope fades, desires become stronger than the will, addictions take over, contentment disappears, joy goes out, identity becomes blurry. You can chase the best career, the finest house, the ideal relationship: none of that will bring your soul to life. Only the light of God does that. And that light came to us in the person of Jesus, then was left with us through the Holy Spirit.
3. The Light Is Stronger Than the Darkness
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). In the original text, this verb means that the darkness did not manage to overpower the light, to smother it, to defeat it.
This sentence is not an easy slogan. John is the one who wrote it, a man who watched every member of his family die, his closest friends martyred for their faith, Nero's persecution fall upon Christians, the city of Jerusalem besieged for seven months and then razed to the ground. John crossed an ocean of darkness. And yet, he is the one who declares that the light is stronger.
Just as a tiny sliver of light slipping under a child's bedroom door is enough to chase away every fear, a little of the light of Jesus is enough to change an inner atmosphere. You do not have to live at the address called "darkness." There is a source of light strong enough to dispel yours.
4. The Darkness Will Not Have the Last Word
The darkness tried everything against Jesus. Herod wanted to kill the child. The Pharisees and the Sadducees plotted to get rid of him. Pilate condemned him to death. He was crucified, laid in a tomb, and for a moment, the darkness seemed to have won.
But three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. The light triumphed. And here is what that changes for you: if the darkness did not have the last word in the life of Jesus, and if you truly give your life to Jesus, it will not have the last word in yours either. Not depression. Not disappointments. Not grief. Not tragedies. God will have the last word in your life.
Key Takeaways
- John tells the Christmas story with a single image: a light shone in the darkness.
- The worst thing is not the darkness around you, it is the darkness that settles inside you.
- Without light, there is no life: your soul needs the light of God just as your body needs the sun.
- A little light is enough to change an atmosphere: light is always stronger than darkness.
- The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that darkness will not have the last word in your life.
Personal Application
- What "darkness" are you going through right now that you are trying to handle alone?
- What do you turn to first when you lack light: entertainment, work, a relationship, or Jesus?
- Which area of your life most needs the light of God to shape it, fill it, light it up?
- Are you ready to use the name of Jesus with authority against the dark thoughts that keep coming back?
- If God is to have the last word in your life, what are you handing over to him today?
Scriptures Cited
- John 1:1-13 · The light shines in the darkness
- Matthew 1:18-23 · The birth of Jesus, Immanuel
- Genesis 1:1-3 · Let there be light
- John 12:46 · I have come as a light into the world
FAQ
Why does John describe Christmas with an image of light rather than the manger?
Unlike Matthew and Luke, who describe the Nativity scene, John chooses a theological metaphor. He wants to show that the birth of Jesus is not just a touching historical event: it is the breaking in of the light of God into a world plunged in darkness. This image ties Christmas back to creation, to the promise of the prophets, and to the mission of Jesus.
What should I do when darkness keeps coming back into my thoughts?
David points out that in the name of Jesus, the believer has the authority to command those dark thoughts to leave. This is not a magic formula: it is the authority that flows from the fact that Jesus is truly your Lord. You also have to accept that the darkness will keep attacking, but it no longer has the right to stay in your house.
How can I receive this light if I am not yet a Christian?
John 1:12 says it: "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Receiving the light of Jesus begins with a simple choice: opening your life to him, acknowledging that you need him, and handing over to him what you carry. A local church can then help you walk in that light.
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