As we prepare for Christmas Eve candlelight services and family gatherings this evening, we'll light the final candle in the Advent wreath. The Center. One word pierces through my busy thoughts, invades the often inadequate prayers I pray and the struggles that remain unresolved, reminding me of how and why I can celebrate this night:
Grace.
Grace sums up the Christian life. In Christ it is a grace life we live.
I love that the first verse my grandson learned and memorized was Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It's beyond beautiful, isn't it? This passage is the eternal, divine heartbeat of the Gospel of God's Grace in Jesus Christ his Son.
I know it's Christmas and not Easter. Before Jesus can die he must live, and before he can live as one of us, he must be conceived. In a virgin's womb, no less, born of woman, but conceived by the Holy Spirit and not of man's corruptible seed. Truly God and truly man. Human and divine. Known theologically as the "hypostatic union." Two natures existing in one person. Only Jesus can be this. Christ alone.
In his flesh as our representative he can experience and understand our struggles while his perfect Godhood could pay the penalty for our sins and intercede as our High Priest. ( Hebrews 2:17 )
In Bible days, and throughout most of human history, the visible church gathered in the house of God on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day to hear the Scriptures read and taught to them. Precious few owned a copy of the Scriptures.
Luke 4:16-22 explains to us, after his birth, his baptism by John the Baptist, and after the temptation in the wilderness by the devil, how Jesus began his earthly ministry:
"And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
'The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth."
We know that the words all spoke well of him would eventually sour because in three years time Jesus would be hanging from a Roman cross.
And yet the gracious words that came from his mouth would manifest themselves into living words through His life, death, and resurrection for all those who would repent and believe in Him. ( John 1:12 )
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." ( John 1:17 )
"Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." ( Hebrews 3:15 )
"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." ( Hebrews 4:16 )
And it is a time of need.
Today a "weary world rejoices," so listen to the Savior of the world's song of grace.
In your need, repent of your sins and believe!
This is the glorious, gracious song of Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Friends!
💜
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