Christmas — We saw His glory
The Christmas story is filled with wonder and amazement. The events surrounding the birth of our Savior were unlike any other. As we watch the prophecy unfolding, the atmosphere became filled with sights and sounds of heaven’s glory. A multitude of the mighty heavenly hosts of angels of God stood at attention and watched in amazement as God provided a Savior for man. When the angel of the Lord announced His birth to the shepherds, suddenly the heavens were filled with a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth.” The birth of the Messiah would bring good tidings of great joy to all people. This was the time for the fulfillment of the prophet’s declarations that a Savior would be born and He would bring peace, justice, and salvation. Both Simeon the prophet and Anna the prophetess rejoiced when they beheld this Child. They declared that He was the light who would bring redemption and glory, (Luke 2:25-38).
John 1:11 NKJV He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
John 1:12 NKJV But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:13 NKJV who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Consider the miracle of the Christmas story.
Because we’ve heard the story so many times, we forget how amazing the miracle really was.
God came to earth in the form of a man.
Consider the miracle that the almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God humbled Himself to become a man. The Creator of all things took on the form of the created. Consider the miracle of the manner in which this occurred.
Isaiah 7:14 NKJV Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
“We saw His glory” is a testimony that everything around the birth of Christ was miraculous.
Consider the miracle of the angelic visitation to Mary and Joseph to announce God’s plan that “A virgin shall conceive and bear a Son.” The angel announced “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, the Holy One Who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). It was a miracle of God that a virgin conceived and bore a Son.
What a sight it must have been for the shepherds to witness the multitude of the heavenly host of angels.
We can only imagine what it must have been like for the night sky to become dazzling bright with the multitude of the heavenly host of angels. The ground must have been shaken at the sound of their glorious praise.
It was a miracle star that arose in the east that led the wise men to Bethlehem where the Baby lay.
Take time to let the wonder of this miracle soak into your spirit and mind.
Consider the mystery of the Christmas story.
The holy child that was born of Mary was the Son of God. The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of all creation was born as a little baby in Bethlehem. Although He was the Son of God, He became a baby and the Son of Man. This is a mystery as well as a miracle. How could it be that the God who cannot be contained in His creation would humble Himself and be born in a stable in Bethlehem? This is beyond our comprehension. How can it be that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us? It is impossible for us to understand the nature, character, and person of the infinite God. It is more mysterious how God would come down and dwell among us.
John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Consider the glory of the Only Begotten of God the Father!
If we are going to understand this, we must look at the whole life and experience of Christ.
We saw His glory.
Behold the manner of His birth.
We have heard this story since we were children that He was born in a stable. Pay attention to what happens around this birth. Watch the events around the shepherds in the fields and the wise men’s miraculous star of Bethlehem.
Can you imagine a star leading wise men from a far country to Bethlehem? What about the night sky being filled with angels and the sound of the heavenly hosts singing?
They sang: “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to men!” These are not common occurrences around a baby’s birth.
We saw His glory.
Although, Jesus was born to Mary and was raised in Joseph’s home, he was uniquely different than his brothers. While they all were raised together in a carpenter’s home, Jesus did not sin.
We saw His glory.
Throughout His life, it was apparent that Jesus had focus on the heavenly Father and His will. At twelve years old, He was found sitting among the teachers in the Temple, both listening and asking questions.
Luke 2:47 says: “All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”
We saw His glory.
Before He began public ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. Those around heard a voice from heaven say, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” As soon as Jesus began His public ministry, He started doing many miracles, signs, and wonders.
Do you believe what the Bible says that He did?
Can you believe that He walked on water and commanded winds and waves and they obeyed Him? The Bible tells us He had power over every evil force. He healed all manner of the sick and oppressed, and raised the dead.
We saw His glory.
Lazarus’ had been dead three days in the tomb. His sisters said it was too late, but Jesus told Mary and Martha they would see the glory of God. At his tomb, the glory of God revealed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God when He called Lazarus to arise from death.
We saw His glory.
His many messages were filled with God’s power and authority. Everyone said: “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46) Jesus said: “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” He said: “I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father Who lives continually in Me does His works (His own miracles and deeds of power).”
We saw His glory.
When it came to the time that He would die, Jesus exercised His authority and said: “No one takes my life from Me… I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18) Jesus proved it when He was on the cross. From around noon until three o’clock in the afternoon, the light of the sun refused to shine, and darkness was over all the earth. Around three o’clock the thick veil hanging in the Holy Place in Temple was ripped in two! Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Then He took His last breath and died.
Three days later, just as He said, He arose from the grave.
The Bible says: “There was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door.” Death was swallowed up in victory as the King of Glory arose.
Later, Jesus told John: “I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
When you consider all of this, you must say: “I have seen His glory.” He is the Lord of glory and He is worthy of all praise.