Christmas, the Mystery of the Incarnation

The Christmas tree symbolises both life and light. The fir tree stays green all winter while the rest of nature seems dead. Thus it is a symbol of life. The lights on the Christmas tree recall the Star of Bethlehem which lit up the night and is a sysmbol of hope.

At Christmas light and life were incarnated in Jesus, who entered our world to enlighten all human beings and give them eternal life. “No-one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (1) Through Jesus Christ, his only Son, we can come to a genuine knowledge of God! Christianity is in fact not a religion, nor an institution, not simply conforming to certain rules, neither a philosophy nor purely intellectual knowledge – Christianity is a Person, God Himself, with whom we can have a relationship as a Father who is near and present. He is attentive, perfect and revelas himself to us through Jesus Christ His only Son. In the person of Jesus God has becoem incarnate, taken a human body in the world. That is the meaning of Christmas.

“He came to that which was his own” (John 1.11). He came in person, openly and publicly. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The eternal word, God Himself, became a human being like us!

I recall a conversation I had with a boy of 12 or 13 at the market stall in Hénin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais. He often came to our chalet to admire the fair trade products on sale. While he was looking with interest at one of the cribs on our shelf I explained the Christmas story to him. When I told him the baby in the crib was God Himself, he scratched his head and asked a theologically profound question: “I don’t quite grasp what you have been telling me. How could this baby who has just been born on earth have existed as God long before His birth?” I stood there open mouthed and ths boy went off without any satisfactory explanation from me, a theology student!

With good reason: in the mystery of the Incarnation God manifested His impenetrable wisdom. The Creator of the Universe, the Lord of all history humbled Himself to the point of being born in a stable. The Son of God, this eternal Being, became a genuine fragile baby yet without ceasing to be God. How can our limited intelleigence explain that?!

Christmas is also a tragedy. His people did not receive Him with open arms although He came as Saviour of the world, the Light that lightens all men. He was rejected by the world He Himself had created and hated by the people He loved. Thirty-three years after his birth in Bethlehem Jesus was nailed to a cross and died an atrocious death. But in fact He offered His innocent life for our sins out of love for us. That is why it says “He dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” The Bible says His death (and His resurrection) is the only way God can pardon our sins – your sins and the sins of the whole world.

Because He is the Saviour, Jesus still saves us from our sins today. Salvation is liberation, and Jesus is powerful enough to free us today from guilt, judgment, from fear and death.

God is offering each one of us the greatest Christmas present, free for all who receive it. Yet is was very costly for the one offering it: it cost the life of His beloved only Son. Because of His immense love God the Father sent His Son into our world. In giving His Son, He gave Himseld utterly.