Promises Fulfilled: A Men's Devotional on Christmasಮಾದರಿ

God’s Promise In Human Form

Believe it or not, the season of Advent is upon us yet again!

The term “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, which means “arrival.” It is a long-held Church tradition to observe the four weeks before Christmas as a season of reflection, remembering, and rejoicing in the Christ-child born in Bethlehem to save the world.

Luke’s Gospel has the most well-known narrative of Christ’s birth (see Luke 1-2), but I actually think John 1:1-18 is my favorite Christmas passage, even though it says nothing about the actual birth story.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” (John 1:14 NIV)*

“The Word of God” is a term we typically use to talk about the Bible. “Preach the Word!” “Hear the Word!” “Obey the Word!”

And, of course, it is that—but there’s more.

This picture John gives us of Jesus coming to earth is more poetic than other Christmas accounts in Scripture, but it might also be more powerful.

Here, it’s not the Bible that is called “the Word,” but Jesus Himself is given that title.

“The Word” became flesh.

“The Word” took on human form.

“The Word” became a man and lived here on earth among us.

What does that mean exactly?

There are a few ways to interpret it:

Jesus is “The Word” because He is God’s agent to accomplish His purposes—the same God who spoke words and created everything from nothing (Genesis 1:1-31).

Jesus is “The Word” because He is God's self-revelation to us; just as people get to know God through the written Word (the Bible), they get to know Him through the lived-out Word, Jesus.

Or, and this one we’ll pause with, Jesus is “The Word” because, through Him, all of God’s plans and promises in Scripture are coming to pass. The written-out verses of God’s Holy Word are all being accomplished in Christ—God’s Word become human.

Put another way, God’s Word is being fulfilled by God’s Word.

The Holy Scripture is embodied perfectly in that baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus both lives out everything that God is and everything that He wants a man to be.

In the birth of Christ, every single promise of God that the world was waiting for came into alignment (2 Corinthians 1:20). His holy purpose was happening in real time through that baby boy born in the manger.

This week, we will look at some of those precious promises that Jesus fulfilled, and through them, learn how to be men who, like Jesus, live out what God wants us to be.

Prayer: Lord, we remember and rejoice in Your birth! Help us as we explore Your promises that were fulfilled through it, and how You want us to live as men because of them. Amen.

Reflection: What is a promise that God has fulfilled in your own life? What did that teach you about who God is?

* Unless otherwise stated, all biblical references in this devotional will be the New International Version (NIV).