MERRY CHRISTMAS; Jesus Revealing the Mystery

Dec. 25

Read: Luke 2:1-21, Eph. 1:3-14

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“In him (JESUS) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” - Eph 1:7-10

The coming of Christ is the unveiling of a mystery. It is the revealing of God’s intention for all of creation. Jesus is the “first-fruits” of God’s plan being revealed in the “fullness of time”. (Eph. 1:10, cf. 1 Cor. 15:20,23) Jesus not only comes as a king, but he also ushers in a KINGDOM… the Kingdom of God. At just the right time, and in just the right way… Jesus comes to this earth to make manifest what has been God’s plan from the beginning: “to unite all things in (Jesus), things in heaven and things on earth.” From that first Christmas forward, God would be united with his creation in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That tiny baby in a manager all those years ago was the first “stitch” that was sewing the fabric of heaven to this earth. Within that baby was contained the fullness of God. (cf.Col. 1:19)

When we read Revelation 21, we see that the culmination of God’s plan is this “uniting all things in Jesus, things in heaven and things on earth.” One day, God’s final dwelling place will be among his people in an even greater and deeper way than he lives within us now. Jesus is foreshadowing what is to come… “Baby Jesus” was simply step one. In this way - Jesus was truly a gift for ALL OF CREATION… not just humans. He was kicking off the final stage of God’s cosmic plan. The truth of God’s mystery is that all of his creation is being united in Christ and put back together. The earth must have shook that evening when Jesus was placed in the manager…“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19)

That very first Christmas was truly the mark of a new era… the beginning of something different. Things would never be the same afterwards. We see this “newness” in the virgin birth of Christ. Jesus’ origin is not like anything else in all of time. Jesus was created by God. He didn’t come about as the product of two people coming together, or by virtue of any human decision. No, it was purely God’s timing, purpose, and plan that brought Christ into this world. Christ offers to us this Christmas a newness of life… the gift of something new… something that has its roots outside of human creation… something that humanity did not “cook it up” on its own. Christmas marks a time of “new beginnings”… it reminds us that God is in the business of working out his mystery through humanity and has gifted us a “newness of life” in Christ!

As Christians today, we live in the midst of that movement that began thousands of years ago. We receive the gift of “new life” in Christ. We continually look to the one who was once a baby in the manger… the one who marked the coming of heaven to earth. That moment forever changed our world. With each day we are closer and closer to the culmination… the final merging of these two realms… the “uniting of all things in Christ”. It is like the best parts of unwrapping a gift! That is one of the reasons that Christmas is such a special time - it is the palpable sense of “togetherness” that we share in Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you today. Merry Christmas! Love you guys. - JDP