The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This was the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. John 1:14-16
Dear Lord Jesus, I can understand why, of all the accounts of your birth, John’s is least often chosen as the script for Sunday school Christmas pageants and programs. After all, what parts would the children play? What cute costumes could they wear? There’s no manger, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds and angels or wise men and lowing cattle. But there certainly is you. You’re are the only star on the horizon in this nativity scene, and how you shine.
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for becoming flesh and “tabernacling” among us at just the right time. Though equal to, yet distinct from the Father, you didn’t consider your glory something to be tightly grasped or held onto selfishly. Rather, you emptied yourself by becoming a man—but not just any ordinary man but a servant-man, the Servant of the Lord, God incarnate, the second Adam, our Savior . . . my Savior.
In your thirty-three years of incarnate life, you accomplished everything necessary for the redemption of the people for whom you lived and died, but also for the restoration of the world you created and love. Be magnified, adored, regaled, worshiped, and loved, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are! What a God who is so mighty to save!
I cannot sing Isaac Watts’ great Advent hymn, “Joy to the World,” without thinking of John’s Advent narrative. For you are presently ruling the world with your grace and truth—the the grace and truth with which you are full. You’re making the nations prove the wonders of your love as the gospel runs from heart to heart and nation to nation.
From the fullness of your grace I keep receiving one blessing after another and one blessing on top of another: The blessings of your imputed righteousness; the blessings of perpetual favor with God; the blessings of your intercession and advocacy; the blessings of your Spirit’s work in my life; the blessings of citizenship in heaven; the blessing of knowing the good work you have begun in me, and in the cosmos, will be brought to completion!
Hail the incarnate deity! Joy to the world, and to me, indeed. You have come, you are here and you are coming again. So very Amen I pray, in your most glorious and grace-filled name.
