Christmas is all about the Incarnation – the glorious reality of a holy God who left heaven, took on flesh, and stepped into a sinful world. Christian theologian and writer J. I. Packer states, “Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.”[1]
In the person of Jesus Christ, God became a man and walked on water, calmed the storm, healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, died on a cross, and conquered even his own death on that glorious Easter morning. Christmas is all about the God who came down.
In Jesus, God became a man, which means that Jesus is like us. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NASB)
What does this mean? It means that Jesus understands our temptations, weakness, suffering, sickness, disappointment, pain, confusion, loneliness, betrayal, brokenness, mourning, and sadness. God left heaven and willingly chose to enter a broken, sinful world. Therefore, in our time of need, we can always run to him and find mercy and grace. What is your need today? Why not run to Jesus who loves you?
In Jesus, God became a man, which means that Jesus is unlike us. Note again Hebrews 4:15; “…the One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” In addition to being fully God, a primary way in which Jesus is unlike us is that he alone is without sin. The Bible is clear on this teaching. What does this mean? It means that Jesus is our only hope for salvation. The babe born in Bethlehem is truly the Savior of the world.
As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, may we embrace the words of that great hymn Joy to the World! - ‘Let every heart prepare him room.’
May our hearts make room for the God who came down to dwell among us; the God who died for us; the God who was raised for us; the God, who one day is coming again for us. Merry Christmas!
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 NASB