Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 17 December 2024 07:38

God With Us
by Cody Anderson Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

The birth of Jesus Christ stands as one of the most profound and transformative events in all of history. The impact it has on the believing and nonbelieving is unquantifiable. The Messiah’s arrival was used to create a universal labeling for our years with AD 1 which is Latin for “In the Year of our Lord”. On the spiritual side of things, this event was a divine act of God where He stepped into mankind’s history to bring about hope, peace, salvation and the new covenant.
At the heart of Jesus’ birth is the concept of incarnation. God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 encapsulated this with the profound statement, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth,” (ESV). The Creator came in the form of the created, dwelled with and took on the limitations of humanity. Jesus came to reconcile man back with God, closing the gap between the divine and the mortal.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, we have the announcement of the Savior being born. Luke 2:11 records the angelic announcement to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” (ESV). We have the word “Savior,” which explains the mission of Jesus; it is not just a title. He was to rescue humanity from the power of sin and death. Since all mankind fell when Adam and Eve sinned against God, God Himself would reconcile mankind back to Himself though the Savior. This would all culminate at the sacrificial death and resurrection of this baby born to us.

God also uses the incarnation of the Son to bring about the new covenant. This would replace the old covenant that was based on the adherence to the Law. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, He would establish a new way for humanity to be made right with God. This time it would be through grace and faith, not of our own efforts, but through the acts of Jesus. Paul points to this in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast,” (ESV).
Hope and peace are another key aspect of Christ’s birth. In the angelic proclamation, the baby would bring peace to those on earth. His life and death would show that peace isn’t found in circumstances, but through a heart reconciled with God and yielding to the Father’s will. Peace also extends to hope. The birth signified the relationship between God and man was not abandoned. Although that relationship had been broken, God Himself would step into the dark and brokenness to restore and redeem it.

Christ’s coming to walk alongside mankind redefines the relationship with God. Mankind now has a Mediator that knows the struggles and temptations. One that overcome the urges and desires of self and lived according to God’s will, fulfilling the old covenant – something that no man had done prior. God can relate to the struggles of this life and isn’t indifferent to them. Hebrews 4:15-16 explains, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” (ESV). Not only does He know our weaknesses, but He commands us to draw near to Him in times of need.

The birth of Jesus didn’t just turn this world upside down; it also turned the spiritual world upside. God the Son would leave the splendor of Heaven to take away the sins of the world, and mankind would finally have their Savior dwelling with them.