Isaiah 9 prophesied that God would send a great light to His hurting people.  That light cut through the despair and gloom and brought hope – hope for them and hope for us.  The light came in the form of a child would be our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Isa 9:6.  That’s an amazing description. 

The gospel of John picks up Isaiah’s prophecy and identifies the great light. 

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.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  No one has ever seen God; the only God, Who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known. John 1:1-5, 14 & 18 ESV.

Our hope for today and eternity is wrapped up in the Child that was born to Mary that very first Christmas. 

Notice what John says about Him.  He was with God in the beginning, and He was God.  The simple word “with” means that He was face to face with God.  There is a distinction between the Word and God, but they were together throughout eternity past.  The Word also created everything.  He is the light that shines in the darkness.  The darkness will never defeat Him, no matter how black things become.  He is the only Son of God the Father, described as the only God Who is at the Father’s side.  He knows God and He makes Him known to us. 

That’s Who we celebrate at Christmas.  He is the light Who has and will overcome and will banish all darkness everywhere.  He is our hope now and throughout eternity.  That light can cut through your despair and gloom and bring hope if you will call out to Him and depend on Him.  He is the greatest Christmas gift you will ever receive.