warm-up

Tell us about your favorite Christmas tradition.

Do you consider yourself as someone who thinks everything through before doing it? Why or why not?

What is the grandest gesture you’ve done for someone? Why did you do it?

word

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. John 1:14

Everyone gets excited over Christmas. The family gatherings we go to, the gifts we exchange, the parties we attend, the colorful lights and decor we see everywhere—these make us feel that Christmas is finally here. But even when we are uncertain if we will keep our traditions, the birth of Jesus can and should still be celebrated. Jesus came into the world, and for that alone we can have hope and joy. Let’s look at what the coming of Jesus means for us today.

1
Jesus is divine.

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . . ¹⁴And 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. John 1:1–3,14

Logos means “word, speech, or an utterance.” In the beginning is a direct reference by the apostle John to the very beginning of creation, where God spoke and all things came into being (John 1:3). In this passage, John emphasized the divinity of Jesus, the only Son from the Father, by referring to Him as the Word that became flesh. In the same way that all things were created with a divine purpose, we can have peace and hope even in the midst of chaos and confusion, because we know that Jesus is sovereign and He can bring order. How have you experienced this peace even in troubling times?

2
Jesus came to dwell among us.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . John 1:14

We celebrate Christmas not simply because a baby was born, but because the Savior of the world came. Jesus became human and lived like us. He was born a human, faced human challenges, and died a human’s death. Even though He lived a perfect life, He suffered with us. He came to redeem humanity from the debt of sin, which can only be paid through death (Romans 6:23). He is God, who chose to take on our likeness so He could sympathize with us and help us overcome sin and death. What does Hebrews 4:15,16 say about how Jesus relates with us?

3
Through Jesus, we can see the glory of God the Father.

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. John 1:14

As logos, when Jesus came to the earth, He became the communication and revelation of who God is to the earth. At the time Jesus was born, there had not been a revelation from God through Scripture or prophecy for about 400 years. But through the life and teachings of Jesus, people saw the glory of God, full of grace and truth. Jesus showed love and compassion, which was ultimately displayed in the sacrifice He made on the cross for a people who didn’t deserve it. He also was not afraid to speak God’s truth and declare judgment upon sin, calling on all men to repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. How have you experienced God’s grace?

application

What could be hindering you from truly celebrating Christ’s coming this year? How can what you learned today help you overcome that hindrance?

Read and meditate on Hebrews 4:15,16. What does Jesus becoming human mean to you and how does it change the way you live?

How can you encourage others who are going through difficulties to celebrate the coming of Jesus? Commit to preach the gospel of Jesus, full of grace and truth.

prayer

Thank God for sending Jesus into the world to save humanity. Thank Him for His faithfulness in the midst of everything you are going through.

Ask God to continually remind you that He can sympathize with you and help you overcome sin and the challenges of life.

Pray for boldness and compassion to share the good news of Jesus Christ to those who desperately need it.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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