The Unseen Message of Christmas
When you look at Christmas what do you see? Children see a Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and lots of presents. Christians see a babe in a manger, shepherds in a field, and wise men bearing gifts. They also see that that babe is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Beyond all of that, there is a message that is unseen and usually missed.
John says the Word, that is, God (Jn. 1:1), “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14, italics added). Beyond the flesh of the babe of Bethlehem, we should see God. There is more. Look. Look again. Notice that John says the Word became flesh and we beheld His glory and grace. John wants us to ultimately see grace! Later in that the passage he says, “The law was given to Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17, italics added).
When Paul looked at Christmas, he saw grace. He says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11, italics added). Grace has appeared. To fully appreciate the fact that the coming of Jesus is the manifestation of grace, you have to look beyond the babe in the crib and see the Christ on the cross. Even at His birth, His death was the issue. The angel told Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21, italics added). An angel told the shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who was Christ Lord” (Lk 2:11, italics added).
Paul’s statement in Titus 2 indicates that the grace he has in mind is manifested at the cross, because he says it is the grace that brings salvation and salvation comes only through the cross. The writer to the Hebrews says it simply, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).
When you look at Christmas, you should see beyond the babe in a manger and even beyond God in the flesh. All that is there, but ultimately what God wants us to see is His grace. This grace could only be seen if Jesus became a man to die for the sin of the world.
Why does God wants us to see His grace? As Paul explains, grace saves sinners and grace teaches saints (Titus 2:11-12). He goes on to explain that grace teaches saints to leave sin, live godly, look for the Lord to return, and, in the meantime, labor for the Lord (Titus 2:11-14).
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me –
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
I see Jesus died for me to save me and teach me to leave sin behind, to live a godly life, to look for Him to return and, in the meantime, to labor for Him.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/25/2010
John says the Word, that is, God (Jn. 1:1), “became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14, italics added). Beyond the flesh of the babe of Bethlehem, we should see God. There is more. Look. Look again. Notice that John says the Word became flesh and we beheld His glory and grace. John wants us to ultimately see grace! Later in that the passage he says, “The law was given to Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17, italics added).
When Paul looked at Christmas, he saw grace. He says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11, italics added). Grace has appeared. To fully appreciate the fact that the coming of Jesus is the manifestation of grace, you have to look beyond the babe in the crib and see the Christ on the cross. Even at His birth, His death was the issue. The angel told Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21, italics added). An angel told the shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who was Christ Lord” (Lk 2:11, italics added).
Paul’s statement in Titus 2 indicates that the grace he has in mind is manifested at the cross, because he says it is the grace that brings salvation and salvation comes only through the cross. The writer to the Hebrews says it simply, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).
When you look at Christmas, you should see beyond the babe in a manger and even beyond God in the flesh. All that is there, but ultimately what God wants us to see is His grace. This grace could only be seen if Jesus became a man to die for the sin of the world.
Why does God wants us to see His grace? As Paul explains, grace saves sinners and grace teaches saints (Titus 2:11-12). He goes on to explain that grace teaches saints to leave sin, live godly, look for the Lord to return, and, in the meantime, labor for the Lord (Titus 2:11-14).
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me –
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
I see Jesus died for me to save me and teach me to leave sin behind, to live a godly life, to look for Him to return and, in the meantime, to labor for Him.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/25/2010