Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope this week and season overflows with good news for you, along with grace, peace and genuine love in your soul. This season can be a wonderful time of celebration for many people, and it can also be a very challenging time with stressors, memories and difficult interactions. In the midst of all this, I think it’s important to pull away from everything and do a “big picture” pause. I say this because the roots of Christmas come from Jesus’ birth, when God became flesh to live among us.
So, with God becoming human, what is His posture or attitude toward us? Is God mad at us? Does He want to punish and judge us? Are humans ugly, repugnant, repulsive and disgusting to God? What’s the heart or posture behind Jesus coming into human existence?
In thinking about this, let’s remember the fundamental passage that is such a core essential for Christianity: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)
Not only do these verses communicate God’s overall perspective on sending His Son to live among us, let’s also look at what God said through various angelic announcements and dreams related to Jesus’ birth:
- To Joseph, Mary’s fiancé: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20b-21)
- To the shepherds in the field: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
- To Mary: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” (Luke 1:31-32)
In all of these announcements, there is no hint of God being angry, punitive, disgusted or repelled by humanity. This is important for us to remember because we humans can be an ugly lot, which we can easily see when we look at human history as well as our personal challenges. Thankfully, God’s posture toward humanity is rooted in love, compassion, forgiveness, redemption, grace, transformation, patience and connection. So truly, Jesus’ arrival into human existence is GREAT NEWS and worthy of a very heartfelt Merry Christmas!
“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
