Christmas: Jesus Has Changed Everything!
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
John 1:1-18, Ephesians 3:20-21
1 In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created 4 received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. 5 The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. 6 God sent a man named John, 7 who came to tell about the light and to lead all people to have faith. 8 John wasn't this light. He came only to tell about the light. 9 The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. 10 The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. 11 He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him. 12 Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God. 13 They were not God's children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children. 14 The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him the complete gifts of undeserved grace and truth have come down to us. 15 John spoke about him and shouted, “This is the one I told you would come! He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.” 16 Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. 17 The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
John 1:1-18
20 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen. 21
Ephesians 3:20-21
Memory Verse
John 1:14
14 The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him the complete gifts of undeserved grace and truth have come down to us.
Advent is about waiting for the Messiah to come. Do you ever wonder if Jesus eagerly awaited his appointed time to arrive? Did our rescuer see the hurt in the world and long to save us?
“In the beginning was the Word…” John begins his gospel’s telling of the Christmas story in a different way. Jesus is God’s Word, and he existed before time began. Since Jesus was with the Father right from the start, that means Jesus saw Adam and Eve turn their backs on God. He watched the Israelites worship the golden calf, Baal, and other false gods. He witnessed the kings of Judah make many bad choices and fall further away from God. He waited for the time when he would come to earth as Immanuel (which means “God with us”).
When Jesus came, the world didn’t recognize him; they did not really understand who the Messiah was. They were expecting a mighty warrior, a king who would defeat the Romans. Instead, they got a baby in a manger. They were expecting violence, battles, and death. Instead, God gave his people an unexpected gift that was far better than they could have ever hoped or imagined. Jesus brought them hope, peace, joy, and God’s unending love.
During these four past weeks, we waited patiently to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Jesus gives us hope in God’s promises for us today and for eternity. He gives us peace because we know he will never leave us. We have joy because he has defeated sin and saved us. God loved us so much that he sent Jesus down to earth to become a human and live with people just like us. In everything we do, let’s show how Jesus’ unexpected arrival has changed everything.
Prayer
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle-school for 27 years. Ron completed a M. Ed. degree in Teaching, Learning and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have three fantastic adult children and one grandchild and reside in Ontario.