If there’s one New Year’s Day when we’re all ready to leave the old year behind, it would be this one. As the coronavirus continues its spread, as our Federal government grinds to a halt in partisan bickering, and as violence continues to explode in our streets, I think we’re all ready for a new beginning.

Well, that’s what Jesus is all about. As John 1:1-2 points out, He is the Word through Whom God spoke the universe into existence. He is the One responsible for bringing light and life into the world, no matter how great the forces of death and darkness might seem (1:4-5).

And even when sin seemed to have won, corrupting God’s good creation and dooming all of Adam’s descendants to death, Jesus was the One Who has given all of us a chance for a new beginning. He took on flesh and lived among us, displaying the glory of God in a way that we could all understand (1:14). And instead of punishing all of us for our rebellion against Him, for refusing to receive Him (1:11), He has given us grace (1:16), extending His royal pardon to all who trust in Him, adopting us into His own family (1:12).

So, do you want a new beginning this year? Open your eyes to the light of Christ (1:9). Turn away from all the darkness, the greed and the lies that swirl around us and marvel instead at His grace and truth (1:14). For no matter what this godless world may promise, Jesus is the only true source of light and life (1:4).

John 1:1-18 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 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.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.