What Did Jesus Do?
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Colossians 1:19
Scientists like to fantasize that there was a time when all the energy and matter of the universe was packed into an unbelievably tiny little speck of, well, who knows what to call this imagined speck? Then, something went “bang,” and the rest, as they say, is “history.” History of an extremely fictionalized sort. I suppose I really shouldn’t be so critical of scientists, they are, as their investment in the so-called “Big Bang Theory” makes clear, men and women of faith. Think about it, it takes whopping faith to believe in the Big Bang Theory when there is no empirical evidence whatsoever to support it. I too, am a man of faith. But my faith does not subscribe to science fiction, excuse me, theoretical science. Rather, my faith rests upon Scriptural and historical evidence.
The Big Bang is a big deal for some, but my hope and faith is rest in something far greater. You see, there was a time when something, actually someone, far bigger and greater than all the universe, packed all the fullness of his being into a tiny little baby. Seriously, think about it. God, who is so huge that the entire cosmos can fit easily in the palm of one of his hands, poured all of who he is into the flesh and blood of an infant who was born to a young woman who lived in Palestine two thousand years ago. All of the Father was pleased to dwell in the Son, who dwelt with us, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) And this was not in some unimaginably distant past of which there is no record, but well within the confines of documented history.
Science offers no reason or purpose for the Big Bang, it simply proclaims that it just happened, and that everything else has been just happening as purposelessly ever since. In stark contrast, my faith is in One who created all things in, through, and for himself, according to his own design and desire. (Colossians 1:16) And, far from being for no fathomable purpose, like the Big Bang and its accidental and random universe, there was a definite and stated purpose for the Incarnation (The fancy theological word for the dwelling of the fullness of God among us). Peace. God came, and took on our flesh and blood, so that in and through the Son he would reconcile all things to himself, and make peace. (Colossians 1:20)
This work of reconciliation was very costly for the Father. It was purchased by nothing less than the blood of the Son shed on the cross. But the peace thereby secured is absolute and everlasting, and freely offered to any and all who will receive it by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son in whom the fullness of the Father dwelt. Anything less than the fullness of God’s grace and truth could not have accomplished the reconciliation of alienated and hostile people, who perpetually stain ourselves with the evil of our deeds. (Colossians 1:21) Nothing but the offering of Christ’s body on the cross could transform sin-stained human beings into people holy and blameless, who can stand before God, above any and all reproach. (Colossians 1:22)
At one time, peace with God, which Christ achieved through his sacrificial work of reconciling all things in and through himself, was what the observance and celebration of Christmas was all about. Nowadays there are many who have not a clue what Christmas is truly about, and they can hardly be blamed, as it is getting harder to find places where the unadulterated truth of Christmas is proclaimed. Why, it has gotten so bad that it has all but become an act of civil disobedience to even wish one another a “Merry Christmas.”
With just four days left until Christmas many are scrambling to get it “right.” Folks desperately do their last minute shopping hoping to be able to put the “right” gifts under the Christmas Tree. People load up carts at the grocery store in hopes of being able to set out the “right” kind of rich and resplendent holiday banquets. Wine and spirits flow freely this time of year, as many believe it would simply be “wrong” to observe Christmas without many potent toasts to the Season. Merchandisers and sellers of pretty much everything under the sun will hold sales right through Christmas Eve, and beyond, in order to help us “do” Christmas “right.”
My hope is that we would use the four remaining days of Advent to rightly understand what it meant for the fullness of God to come and dwell in the baby who lay in the manger in Bethlehem all those years ago. Only if we get this “right,” can we celebrate and share the true meaning of Christmas with family and friends, and with the world. For this Christmas to truly be merry for us all, I pray that it will be filled with all the grace and truth of the Father, which dwelt in Jesus, the Son, that there would be peace forevermore.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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