He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:15-20). This is a magisterial vision of the identity of Jesus Christ. Similarly, John writes (in more typically “Christmas” vein):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.…The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-3, 14).

This Jesus is the very glory of God. Listen to Philippians:

Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11).

I quote these texts regarding the humble glory of Jesus because it gives us a renewed sense of the one we celebrate. With the glory of Christ in mind, debates about what we call the season become less important. After all, the Puritans objected to the term “Christmas” too – granted, for very different reasons than contemporary secularists. They felt that “Christmas” was too reminiscent of unhealthy pagan-like festivities, and it would be better if we ditched the whole thing and emphasized Christ all year round. Anyone who has been to a typical Christmas office “party” will have sympathy with them, not to mention with Scrooge. That said, though, once, instead, we fill our minds, hearts, and our vision with the glory of Christ – the very nature of God, the Word made flesh, the image of the invisible God – then celebration at Christmas, as well as any other time time, is the nearly inevitable result. I say “nearly” for what celebration means to one person will be different from another. But some form of merriment, rejoicing, is difficult for even the most taciturn to avoid when they see glory. Whether it is the glory of a touchdown in football, a goal in football or soccer, a slam dunk in basketball, a home run in baseball, a six in cricket, or top score in an exam. Yes, we shout! Glory! If we are going to put Christ back into Christmas, let’s also put the glory back in it, too. by Josh Moody]]>