A Christmas Reflection

The angel of the Lord announced, “I bring you news of great joy…for to you is born…a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11). But why the joy at the birth of this infant, born in a stable? Because this infant Who was filled with divine perfection, power and attributes dwelling permanently in Him (Colossians 1:19) “came that we may have life, to the full, in abundance, till it overflows” (John 10:10). This was the reason for His birth. His death was the reason for His birth so that His fullness would be possible for each of us and sin condemned. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,” (Romans 8:3). With His divine fullness belonging to us, now our relationship to God could be restored. Jesus’ birth was a stunning display of the glory of God making it possible for humanity to become children of the Most High!  

Jesus made a choice to be born human, to come to earth as a servant (Philippians 2:7). He came to give us the gift of His life, to offer Himself as a sacrifice, knowing this would require great suffering. The gift of giving His life, meant the gift of receiving life for all those that believe in Him as Savior, the Son of God. Jesus was always in charge of His destiny. Satan didn’t take His life; Jesus gave His life (John 10:18). He was born to give it away. Jesus was our gift. What satan meant for harm, and a display of his wickedness, was actually a display of God’s glory and power (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).

Jesus was light dispelling darkness (John 1:5,9,14). He brought the Father out and made Him known; He brought the Father out where He could be seen (John 1:18). Jesus showed us the intrinsicses of the Father and by grace Who He created us to be. He gave us the opportunity to have eternal life, that is “knowing the Father and Jesus Christ Whom He sent” (John 17:3). This all began by Jesus humbling Himself to come to earth in the flesh as servant and dwell among those that He had created (Philippians 2:7; John 1:14).

Through Jesus, the Father made His promises real. Prophetic words of the Old Testament confirm Jesus’ birth, with rituals and laws foreshadowing the time when a Savior would come. God brought forth out of the shadows the true Light, the light of Christ (John 1:6-9). Now Jesus makes the promises of God a reality for us; we have the opportunity to experience all of His blessings. But this was not only through His birth, but through His death and resurrection. As we witness His birth, it should catapult us from sacrificial birth, humbling Himself to be human, to sacrificial death, so that His fullness is our fullness.  

Christmas is a journey of love. Jesus was born with us on His mind; we were the joy set before Him when He was born and when He died (Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 12:2). He was single focused on us. This journey of love is His longing for us to return to relationship with Him and His Father. Our sinful nature once separated us from that relationship. Now, because of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection, by our believing in Him, we have a new nature. The abundant life that Jesus came to give us, begins the moment that we say yes, I believe! At that moment we are filled instantly with His divine presence. Rivers of living water are present within us (John 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit takes residence, bringing all the attributes of God to us (Galatians 4:6; 2 Peter 1:4); bringing all the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23); bringing resurrection power (Ephesians 1:19). This is life in abundance and overflowing! There is no more separation! This is the joy of Christmas! We cannot have that joy until we understand Who Jesus is, what He did and why He came. Joy comes from knowledge, revelation of these truths. Then we can truly say Glory to God in the Highest! Then we can truly say this is news of great joy, Jesus was born our Savior!