“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God….And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:1-2, 14).
Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Holy Trinity and existed before the creation of time and matter. In fact, it was through Christ that all things were created (John 1:3). Christ left heaven to come to earth and take on the form of man in order to reveal to us God. Christ became the God-Man. He is one hundred percent God and one hundred percent Man.
Christ came to earth by means of the virgin birth so He could become Man. The baby was called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He was also called Jesus! This was the first Christmas. And, the first Christmas gift to be given was God giving Himself for and to us.
Throughout His time here on earth, Jesus repeatedly revealed Himself as the God-Man. As Man, Jesus enjoyed Himself at a wedding. As God, He turned water into wine. As Man, Jesus was moved with compassion for the sick and hurting. As God, He healed the sick of their diseases and infirmities. As Man, Jesus grew tired and slept in the back of a boat. As God, He calmed the stormy sea! As Man, Jesus was moved by the love and faith of the friends of a paralyzed man. As God, He forgave the man of his sins and healed his legs so that he could walk. As Man, Jesus was saddened and wept at the graveside of His friend. As God, He raised Lazarus back to life! Jesus Christ made strong statements concerning His deity and provided miracle after miracle to validate His claims.
The final demonstration of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ was as Man; Jesus suffered, bled, and died as the substitutional sacrifice for my sin and your sin so we could have a relationship with God Almighty. As God, He raised Himself back to life so we could receive God’s gift of eternal life through Him! “Therefore My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:17-18).
May I encourage you to receive this Christmas the greatest gift that has ever been given, the one given by God Himself? “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God offers this out of His love for you! If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, would you do so now and truly experience the true meaning of Christmas?! If you have already received God’s gift, why don’t you share the Christmas message with those in your sphere of influence so they may experience the truth of Christmas?!
Merry Christmas and may God bless us all with a New and blessed 2021!
Some thoughts to ponder,
Learning to serve,
Robert Finley, Ph.D.
December 2020