Jesus is so powerful—yet kind. Just—yet wildly compassionate. Mighty—yet gentle. He has no beginning and no end; He cannot be measured. He is the Originator of all things: time, space, light, earth, you, and me. He is everywhere yet ever near to us, simultaneously. God left Heaven and came to earth, for us. I have experienced a new sense of expectation surrounding celebrating Jesus’ birth this year. I have spent extra time reflecting on what this joyous day, the whole of advent, really, truly means for humanity—for me.
Losing the wonder of Christmas can happen quickly amid the business of the season. So now that the card writing and gift-buying are finished, and Christmas dinner has been enjoyed, I invite you to pause and breathe in the joy and privilege we have been afforded simply to celebrate the birth of Jesus! I invite you to slow down now, and allow the true meaning of Christmas to take its rightful place in your heart. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:1-5
The Gospel of John speaks about the dawn of creation. It tells us that Jesus was with God—in the beginning—before the earth was formed. That He spoke all things into existence- standing over the dark void. And in this same Gospel, we receive the most beautiful revelation; John identifies Jesus as “The Word.” The same Word who spoke time and light into existence. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness”. – Genesis 1:2-4.
The Word was God. He was the very Word that brought the light that we see with our physical eyes into existence. “…all things have been created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16.
However, when sin entered the world, the light of the soul was quenched, leaving humanity in the darkness. In Genesis 3:23-24, we read of the moment that man was banished from the Garden of Eden. “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Adam and Eve sinned. They disobeyed God. And their sin of disobedience disqualified them from walking with, being in direct communion with, a holy God. Holiness and the depravity of man cannot coexist.
And so, after the fall of Adam and Eve, God, for the most part, spoke to mankind through His prophets. No longer was man free to walk with God in the cool of the day—Genesis 3:8. But having been made in His image, created to love, worship, fellowship with, and serve Him, God could not let our story end there—in sin and separation. And so, He sent Jesus into the world. Not as a flashy king or powerful ruler but a humble baby. He sent Jesus to us, as one of us, fully God yet fully man. That He might experience life as we do yet live it without sin. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16.
And being God, Jesus loved us enough to leave the majesty of Heaven, His Throne, to come to us. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). —Matthew 1:23.
Jesus alone is worthy—God’s spotless Lamb restores us into right standing with God.
Sin hovers over the darkness of our hearts, but God loves His creation too much to leave us in this state.
The Word present at creation, the One who spoke everything created into existence, came as God in the flesh. In His great compassion and mercy, God, no longer able to walk with us in the garden of Eden, came instead as a babe wrapped in milk rags, found by shepherds laying in a manger. He came to restore us—to experience life as we knew it and to change life as we would know it. The Word by which light came forth became the Light of Life –John 1:4. No longer must we wander in spiritual darkness, aimless. Jesus came to restore light to our souls, illuminating the dark places that have somehow become all too comfortable for us. Jesus came to save us. To restore us into right relationship with the Father. To our place in His family. Jesus made a way for us to be in God’s presence, the best place to be. And while we can enjoy being ushered into God’s presence in solemn moments set aside for Him, days such as today, let us never forget Jesus is with us in our day-to-day moments as well. He is with us while we work, clean, drive, in our staying and going. We can spend time with Him and worship Him freely every day.
There is constant worship before the Lord in Heaven, we read about it in Luke’s Gospel. Heaven came to earth, and the angels appeared to usher in His presence with worship. The Angels came to Jesus’ birthplace, rejoicing! Jesus, the King of Heaven, the Lord of Angel Armies, the very Word of God made flesh, now dwelt among mere men. – “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” –Luke 2:13-14.
When looking at this scripture, I imagine that while the angel’s rejoicing was primarily due to their announcing God’s royal presence among us, I had to wonder if the angels also rejoiced because the Light of hope now dwelled amongst God’s creations once again?
I wonder if part of the rejoicing were the angels knowing God’s restoration plan for His children would now be fulfilled? Once again, God’s Light might enter the human soul, exposing every wicked instinct to sin against Him. Now, through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has restored a way for us to live our lives in God’s presence once again. I am so grateful that you and I do not have to wait to get to Heaven to talk to God, to thank Him for sending us His Son; we can do it right now, thanks to Christ’s birth—the first advent. And while we wait for his second advent, or coming, we can worship Jesus in spirit and Truth right now, for it is in His presence we find our purpose and the fullness of joy! “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” –John 4:24.
If you do not know Jesus yet, I invite you to receive His free gift of salvation today, for Christmas. Open your heart to Him and make Him the Lord of your life. There is no pain too deep or sin too great that God cannot forgive. May He fill you with abundant joy this Christmas season. And may this next year be one of new life for you as you walk with Him every day. “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” –John 3:3.
Merry Christmas! What an honor it has been to share my heart with you on this beautiful holiday.
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