The Miracle of Christ Sent | Brian Mosby

It's the Christmas season. If I'm honest, it is easy to lose sight of our reason for celebration and become distracted with many of the responsibilities and tasks we associate with the season. As believers, our focus should be on Jesus Christ year-round, but Christmas should be a particular time to realign our affections and sight on Christ. The nativity accounts in Scripture are often helpful as we meditate on God's goodness in this season. Although John's gospel does not present a nativity story like Matthew and Luke, his comments wonderfully capture the miracle of Christ sent.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn. 1:1)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory, glory as the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn. 1:15)

The birth of the savior in Bethlehem was not the beginning of the Christmas story. Jesus existed with God from eternity and it was there that the plan for him to be sent finds its origin. In the birth of Christ, we do not merely have a newborn child coming into the earth but one who is God and has been in eternal relationship with God from eternity, taking on humanity.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:29)

In the incarnation, he enters his creation and identifies with his creatures to achieve salvation on their behalf. This is the miracle of Christ sent, the gift of Christmas. Miraculously, God takes on humanity, but it is even more miraculous he's doing it to save sinners. God gave us the one thing we all desperately needed at a high cost to himself. We are all sinful by nature. We reject God and his love. However, in grace, he has pursued us and purchased us. We are now alive in Christ and reconciled to God. As we pause this Christmas season and reflect upon God's goodness and grace revealed through Christ, may we realize that the miracle of Christ sent is the very foundation and core of our lives as believers. We cannot simply reflect on this at Christmas but must embrace it daily as disciples.

"As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world" (Jn. 17:18)

The miracle of Christ sent does not stop with the birth of Christ, his perfect life, his sacrificial death, his resurrection, or ascension. The gift of Christ and his reconciling work has now been passed on to his disciples. In one sense it has been passed on to us because we are beneficiaries of the miracle as those that have received salvation and been reconciled to God. In another, we carry the privilege and responsibility to proclaim the miracle of Christ sent to the world in both Word and deed. As we live transformed lives distinct from the world and as we preach the gospel, we proclaim the miracle of Christ sent. It is for this purpose believers have been commissioned and the church exists.

This is not only an individual responsibility but a corporate one as well. As we gather as a church and join around Christ and his mission instead of our preferences, we proclaim the miracle of Christ sent. When a group of people of different ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds all join in worshiping God we proclaim the miracle of Christ sent. When we preach the gospel in our homes and communities, we proclaim the gift of Christ sent. Grace Alive, just as Jesus was sent into the world for a purpose, so are we. Continue living as servants in central Florida, continue engaging in Gospel community, and continue proclaiming the gospel. The church must be a people mobilized for mission. Our existence as a church is dependent on the miracle of Christ sent. May we too live sent lives, giving generously of our time, talent, and treasures because of God's great grace and for his glory.