During the Christmas season the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated. This is clearly the happiest time of the year for people of all faith persuasions. Despite misgivings over the time factor and the way we celebrate, it is important to recognize that most of the world joins in on this celebration.
We can all rejoice over the birth of Jesus as God’s expression of peace and good will to all. During this time of celebration we can’t help but wonder; how do we receive God’s peace and good will?
The Birth of Jesus
When God spoke and sent His word (Greek logos – spoken expression) into the womb of a woman, conception began the process of forming the baby Jesus. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] While conception took place without a man, Jesus was formed in a mother’s womb, uniquely as a son of God and man.
Following his birth into this world as the “begotten of God,” (b) the boy Jesus grew and developed as a child of God and man. From childhood, Jesus “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (c) Think about it, Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God. The boy realized early in life that God was real and obviously spent time communing with his heavenly Father.
As a child, his interaction with the presence of God enabled him to begin to understand many of the issues of life. A result of his intimate fellowship with God, at the age of 12, Jesus amazed the religious leaders. (d) The perceptions and expressions of Jesus conveyed a wisdom that exceeded his age.
Paul reminded the Athene Greeks that while we are all offspring of man, “we also are offspring…of God.” (e) Scripture states that a deposit of God’s Spirit gives life to every person; we call it the “spirit of life.” (f) Yes, God’s spirit is in each person as a source of life. (g) We are all God’s wondering offspring and responsive children even if we do not know it or always act like it.
Jesus was like us in many ways. However, he was more as a son of God than man because he faithfully followed God’s guidance. Jesus showed us how to live as children of God. This is why he is elevated to be the “one mediator…between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (h) While our status as offspring of God is not dependent on our choice, choices contribute to the quality of life that we live.
The birth and life of Jesus helps us realize a most important truth; God is a merciful forgiver. (i) This is a wonderful truth in itself and yet there is an even deeper purpose in the life and message of Jesus. He illustrated the truth that all of us can be responsive to our heavenly Father’s guidance. (j) Scripture encourages to know and to interact with God’s presence just like Jesus did during his physical life. (k)
Jesus illustrated the truth that all of us can be responsive to our heavenly Father’s guidance.
The Example of Jesus
Some today assume Jesus ‘knew’ everything, like God knows everything from the beginning of time to its supposed end. This overlooks the fact that he grew and increased in wisdom. Jesus is recorded as praying often as he sought insight and guidance from his Eternal Father, (l) the One who knows all.
Jesus even prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, 
let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (m) While Jesus came to understand God’s desire and purpose for his life in this temporal world, God revealed to him only what was appropriate for him to know during the days he lived as a man.
Scripture verifies, “God cannot be tempted.” (n) It also tells us that Jesus “was tempted in all things as we are.” (o) Temptation means Jesus could have sinned. At the age of 30, Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of God and then the anointed Jesus was tempted to act independent of his Father. (p) His fellowship with God provided the insight he needed to cope with the temptations that came his way.
I admit there are times when all of God’s children act as a Prodigal Son, (q) ignoring God’s insight and going our way. As we in repentance turn to our Father, we again receive “the right to become children of God.” (r) As we respond to the insight the Eternal One offers, we are taught and disciplined by Him.
During our times in fellowship with God we become more than wondering offspring: “For all who are being ‘led’ by the Spirit of God, these ‘are’ sons of God.” (s) Our heavenly Father has given us an example to learn from. Jesus was responsive as a child of God. Jesus even clarified this insight: “I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” (t)
The babe we celebrate today grew to demonstrate how we can live in close fellowship with God. We are intended to live much like Jesus did. He was an example of God’s expressive character, attitude, and personality (CAP). Jesus even prayed during this life “That they…be with me where I am.” (u)
The babe we celebrate today grew to demonstrate how we can live in close fellowship with God.
“The Way” of Salvation
The life Jesus lived is the richest example of what we were created to be; God’s “image and likeness.” (v) The Hebrew words translated image and likeness are easily translated as “reflection and resemblance.” Just as a mirror reflects the image within its view, we “reflect” the qualities of God we focus on. (w) And, as children resemble the character, attitude, and personality (CAP) of the father we love and honor, we “resemble” the God that we respond to and honor.
As wandering offspring and responsive children of God, humanity is a variety of good, not so good, and bad reflective resemblances of our heavenly Father. Much of the time we are quite immature.
Jesus illustrated our heavenly Father’s image and likeness in human form. He showed us how we can respond, function, and develop into more mature reflective resemblances of our Creator. God’s peace and good will is experienced and becomes visible in our maturing expressions of our Father.
The way of salvation was commonly referred to in the book of Acts simply as “The Way.” (x) Salvation is more than a conversion event or a future reality. We are intended to respond to the presence of God that is with us, among us and in our midst. He offers us a way to live, a way of life.
When Jesus responded to the question, “How do we know the way,” he answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (y) Instead of responding with what can appear to be three aspects of life, Hebrew linguists verify this phrase can easily be translated simply as: “I am the truthful way to live.”
How do we best experience God’s peace and good will? With all Jesus taught, he brought clarity to The Way by saying in essence: “I repeat what I hear my Father say and do what I sense my Father is doing.” (z) When we awaken to the reality of our Eternal Father, we become “born from above.” (aa) Everyone can sense God’s presence and receive His guidance. As we agree with the insight God shares and walk in the way that Jesus illustrated, we spiritually mature and our natural life improves.
So, what is the greater purpose of the babe we celebrate? Jesus lived, taught, and illustrated how each of us, absolutely everyone can experience an intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace.” (bb) Our personal fellowship with the abiding presence of God is the foundation for experiencing “The Way” of true peace, day by day.
May each of us learn to be more attentive to our heavenly Father’s insightful guidance! With His help, we can live as Jesus did – as a child of God and man.
Our personal fellowship with the abiding presence of God is the foundation for experiencing “The Way” of true peace, day by day.
a) John 1:1, 14; b) John 1:18; c) Luke 2:40, 52; d) Luke 2:41-47; e) Acts 17:28-29; f) Ecclesiastes 12:7; Job 32:8; 33:4; Proverbs 20:27; g) Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:22-27; h) 1 Timothy 2:5; i) 1 John 2:1-2; John 6:51; 1 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:11; j) Romans 8:14; k) John 17:3; Jeremiah 9:24; l) Luke 5:16; m) Matthew 26:39; n) James 1:13; o) Hebrews 4:15; p) Luke 4:1-13; q) Luke 15:1-24; r) John 1:12; s) Romans 8:14; r) John 13:15; u) John 17:24;12:26; 14:3-4; v) Genesis 1:26; w) 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 13:12 ; x) Acts 16:17; 9:2; 18:25, 26; 22:4; 24:14, 22; y) John 14:6; z) John 5:19; 12:49; 17:8; aa) John 3:16; bb) John 16:33
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder