I am one of those sad persons who keep a diary and writes an annual letter for friends and acquaintances at Christmas. There is one benefit of doing this. I am reminded of all the thing that have given me most pleasure during the year: a wonderful full moon on a clear, still January evening, two treecreepers displaying at Lynford Arboretum in the spring, the scent from masses of dwarf carnations in a garden in Chelmondiston, a walk through the barley fields between Cley and Salthouse on the North Norfolk coast, 10 species of butterfly on the humble bramble flowers in the woods of West Stow and children playing hide and seek on the camp site at Kelling.

However my few moments of greatest pleasure occurred while I was watching a program on the West Indies presented by the newsreader, Trevor Macdonald. During his tour of the different Caribbean islands Macdonald visited a steel drum making factory and engaged in conversation with one of the drum makers. When asked how he succeeded in getting a drum to ring true the old, black, wizened craftsman replied, “God puts the notes into the drum.” This didn’t suit Trevor Macdonald. He said stuffily, “Come on—I don’t expect to encounter theology in drum making factory.” The old boy’s reply was instant, indignant and full of conviction: “Of course God does it. I couldn’t do it by myself.” He thought Trevor Macdonald was the one being silly! I loved the drum maker’s simple testimony to God’s goodness.

In the passage of John’s gospel that is read at every carol service there is a testimony to the character and personality of Jesus. John wrote: We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

No one would say of me that I was full of grace and truth! The best that Mr Dean Sykes, the erstwhile captain of Brockley Cricket Club, could say to mark my long overdue retirement from playing the beautiful game was that I was, in the fullest sense of the word, an eccentric.

Nobody knew Jesus better than John. It is possible that they were cousins. He was an intimate of Jesus throughout his earthly ministry. He hung on Jesus' every word and, as an enthusiastic student, recorded many of them. John was present at the joyous miracles and at the frequent, heated altercations between Jesus and his religious enemies. He saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top and crucified on a hill called Calvary. He was with Jesus in the good times when he relaxed among admirers and in the bad times when he agonised over his impending death. John observed Jesus make friends with prostitutes and traitors and witnessed him drive the racketeers from the temple. The beloved disciple heard Christ laugh and watched him cry; he heard him sigh and watched him bleed; he saw him curse a fig tree and take babies in his arms to bless them.

John assures us that the life of Jesus was like a lovely, pure light. He was: The true light that gives light to every man. He was like the light of a fine spring morning - gentle sunshine that warms the earth, brightens every bloom, kisses the babies' cheek, puts a song in the mother's heart and cheers even the old and house bound. Jesus was born a king—but he is a king of the hearts and minds of men. As Isaac Watts wrote:

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.