Where did we learn the Christmas story? Matthew gives us Joseph’s side of the story, together with Herod and the Magi. Luke tells us about Mary, Gabriel, and the shepherds. Most of our nativity scenes combine these two accounts of Christ’s birth. We may forget that John also tells us the story of Christmas from the point of view of heaven, from above.
The Word always was God and created all things. In Jesus, the pre-existent eternal Word became flesh. As Alistair Begg said, “There was a time when Jesus was God , but not man. But there was never a moment when he was man but not God.” God himself pitched his tent among us. Jesus made God visible here on earth. His disciples saw his glory and knew he was the Son of God.
What did people notice when they saw Jesus? He was full of grace and truth. For people like us, whose lives are often so busy that we are running on empty, Jesus brings good news. If our grace meter is running low, he affords grace upon grace to spare and to share. If we just need someone to tell us the truth, John points us to Jesus. Jesus was full of truth because he is the Truth. So Jesus has just what we need for Christmas this year: grace to forgive our sins, truth to guide us and to guard us.
We used to sing this beautiful song: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Behold Jesus. See his glory. Savor his grace. Trust his truth. Be full of God today. Our empty world never needed God more.
