Despite the shift in our western culture, it’s still difficult to go out without seeing nativity scenes scattered among the Christmas decorations—albeit fewer and fewer over the years.
Still, the image of the baby in those nativities reminds us of who we’re celebrating: the birth of Jesus who came to restore us to our heavenly Father. The One who left His throne for a feeding trough. The One who came to earth so that we might go to heaven.
But Jesus didn’t stay a baby. He grew up, the sinless God-man living for 33+ years among the sinful humanity He came to redeem. Then He died a substitutionary death to satisfy the penalty for our sins. And His resurrection proved God accepted His sacrifice as full satisfaction for that penalty.
Jesus also promised to return for us (John 14:3). But until that day, He promised something else. Jesus told His disciples:
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” ~ John 14:15-20 NIV
I don’t know what you’re facing this Christmas season, but the Father does. And He has not left you without comfort. If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, He has given you His Spirit to dwell in you: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 NIV).
He is always with us. And it all began at Christmas:
Christ in a manger. Now, Christ in us.
