“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” (John 1:14, ESV).
The wonder of the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh, brings depth, mystery, grace, and truth to the celebration of Christmas. The Word, the Lord Jesus, was in the beginning. He was with God and he is God, the second person of the Trinity. He was the active agent in creation, crafting the universe with care and beauty. He is eternal. There was never a time when he was not, nor will there be a time when he is not present.
He is the creator and sustainer of life. The life that he offers guides our way, even in the dark times. During 2020, we have dealt with much darkness—the heaviness of the pandemic, fears, divisions, concerns, isolation, heartaches, and even death. However, the darkness will never be able to extinguish the light. Even though those who have not received Jesus are unable to comprehend him, the light of the Word shines in the darkness. The good news of the gospel is the light of Christ that shines in the darkness, illuminating and guiding all who will follow him through repentance and faith.
The eternal, living Word of God became flesh. He was a child born in poverty with a feeding trough for his crib. He was conceived not by the will of humans, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. The point of the virgin birth of Christ is that God initiated salvation for all who believe. He did something for us that we could never do for ourselves. We are saved by grace through faith and that is the gift of God. We cannot earn it and we certainly do not deserve it.
In this Christmas season, reflect on John 1:1-14. We have beheld the glory of the only begotten son of the Father. Jesus is full of grace and truth. Grace without truth is permissiveness; truth without grace is cold, impersonal, and empty. The Lord merged grace and truth in Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death, victorious resurrection, triumphant ascension, and his promise to return as King. This is the good news of the gospel and why we celebrate Christmas as Christ followers.
Action Steps
- Praise God for the birth of the Savior. Reflect on the wonder of the incarnation. The coming of the Christ child may seem like a strange way to save the world, but God’s field of vision through his infinite wisdom is so much greater than ours. Trust God.
- Enjoy the life that God gives. You were created with a divine purpose. The Father knows you thoroughly and is aware of all of your needs and desires. He has ordained a plan for your life. The best life is discovered as you respond in obedience to the Lord, living out his purposes for your life.
- Worship the Savior. During the pandemic with its fears and restrictions, it has been challenging to join with other believers in worship. Find a way to worship during this Christmas season. If you are unable or uncomfortable to gather with the church in person, use virtual means to stay connected to the body of Christ. Worship together as a family. Praise the Lord in the good times and in the challenges. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Ps 150:6).
- Live your life in holiness. Ask the Lord to search your heart. If the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin, repent and return to the Lord.
- Read the written Word about the living Word. Read and reflect on the narratives of Christ’s birth in Mathew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
- Share the hope of Christmas with others. Find creative ways to connect with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to encourage one another.
- Pray for missionaries. Many are separated from their families in the places where they serve. Pray that the Lord will encourage them and open doors of opportunity to share the hope of the gospel. Also, pray for missionaries who are unable to be in the places where God has called them because of the pandemic. Ask the Lord to comfort their uncertainties and to strengthen them as they await the opportunity to connect or reconnect with their places of service.