In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 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.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to 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. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Comment: For lack of a better word, before time and space were created ETERNITY existed, in which God reigned and was! John speaking of Christmas some years after Jesus was born makes several staggering statements. i) Jesus (called here the WORD) was in existence before the world of time and space was created. ii) He was and is God, even though born a human baby. iii) He created time and space and the world! iv) He created ‘life’ as we understand it and brought light (understanding, being-ness) into reality. v) He talked about John, the Baptiser, a historical person, who trumpeted the coming Jesus. vi) Coming into what He had created people didn’t recognize Him for who He was. vii) A few did believe Who He was and ‘received’ Him. Already born with blood and by parental desire they staggeringly became born into God’s family – an intimate relationship! Do you believe what John has said?
Prayer: Please in our land let us not treat Christmas as just a party/holiday time. Please.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your very helpful comments on this passage of Scripture. I found them a blessing. God bless you.
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Marion, Thank you for the comment. I love John’s introduction to his gospel as it starts with the incarnation but puts it into its ‘all of eternal history’ place. Of course Luke’s record delightfully touches our hearts and fills in those couple of years and about the time of His coming. Luke, with Matthew’s gospel, is the source of what most Christmas cards and Christmas letters are centred. They don’t in any way deny the ‘God contracted to a span (baby)’ aspect of the Christmas story, but John, at least for me, presses more the eternal nature of Jesus as God from everlasting. Have a great Christmas!
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