GETTING THE WORD OUT — PART 2
We've been talking in Part 1 about the message of the Incarnation and "getting the Word out". Picking it up where we left off:
As He got the Word out, God’s glory is made known
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father
What is glory anyway? Definitions include: splendour; triumphant honour; resplendent brightness; honour resulting from a good opinion; God’s manifested excellence. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that the Son is the radiance of God’s glory.
Jesus revealed His glory in the healings and miracles and signs and wonders.
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. Jn 2:11
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.” Jn 11:4
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” Jn 11:40
They beheld His glory at the Transfiguration.
Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. Lk 9:32
He made God’s glory known in completing the assigned task.
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Jn 17:4
They glimpsed the glory of Jesus.
If we really see Jesus, it’s a jaw-dropping moment that results in wide-eyed, open-mouthed wonder. Yet as we follow His example, it can be true of us too: people can glimpse the glory of Jesus even through us.
This Christmas, and this year, as we reach out in faith for healings and miracles and signs and wonders, and see these happen more and more through us, we make His glory known. And as we do the work God gave us to do, we make His glory known.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor 4:6
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16
As He got the Word out, God’s heart is made known
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:17 says, “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Grace is God’s free, unmerited favour. We can’t earn it, and we don’t deserve it. It’s the goodness of God in our badness — it’s the completeness of God in our incompleteness — it’s the riches of God at Christ’s expense.
Truth is the reality of how things are. Truth shines clarity in the midst of confusion. Truth confronts deception and pierces tradition.
If it’s all grace, things can get fuzzy. If it’s all truth, things are too black and white. Grace and truth belong together.
Jesus is full of grace and truth, and reveals these in His teaching and behaviour. Truth shines through. He always calls it like it is. He doesn’t compromise the truth for the sake of guarding feelings or avoiding offence. Yet He models for us grace—unmerited favour—a non-judgemental application of truth. The Christian message is a message of grace and truth, not law and guilt and fear and shame. Jesus revealed a God of grace and truth.
This Christmas, and this year, as we know and interact with Jesus for ourselves, let’s know His grace and truth. It doesn’t mean we’re passive—we reach out in faith. But it does mean we’re released from law and guilt and fear and shame.
And as we teach, as we model, as we share Jesus with others: let’s not be legalistic Christians; let’s not be guilt-mongering Christians; let’s not be fear-producing Christians; let’s not be shaming Christians. Let’s be full of grace and truth.
George Alexander
December 2003
Copyright © 2003, 2023 by George Alexander. All rights reserved.
George Alexander, 24/10/2023