Christ in us, the hope of glory

Matthew 1:18-24 recounts the angelic visit to Joseph who had been debating within himself what he should do since his espoused wife, Mary, was discovered to be with child.  The angel confirmed Mary’s rendition that the child she carried was fathered by the Holy Spirit and Joseph fears were assuaged by the angel’s pronouncement.  He continued with Mary through their espousement not having marital relations until after the child was born.  

The child fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14 where he was named Immanuel (God with us) and this was noted in Matthew 1:23 (Emmanuel-God with us).  But in Matthew 1:21 he was also called Jesus because he would save his people from their sins (Yeshua = God is salvation).

It has been noted the Holy Spirit anointed prophets, priests and kings in the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit would descend upon them for varying periods of time and they would prophesy.

Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, walked the earth beside the disciples but in John 16:7, He encourages them by the promise of the Holy Spirit being given in a new and unique way.  Jesus has been with them but the Holy Spirit will be IN them.  Like Moses in Exodus 33:15 pleading for God’s presence to stay with Israel saying, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

Like the passage from Isaiah 60:22 promises, what seems small and powerless in our eyes is dramatically changed by the presence of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We can never trust in our own strength but we can do all things through Christ manifest through the Holy Spirit in us.  “Christ in us the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Christ is described in John 1 as the seed which planted in the good soil of a heart brings forth 30, 60, even 100 times as much.  Jesus said if you don’t understand the parable of the sower you won’t be able to understand any of the parables he told. (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8:5-15).

Christmas is more than celebrating the earthly birth of a baby in manger, even of a Savior, even as one who will return as King of kings.  The birth of the seed (Genesis 3:15) of woman (Gabriel spoke the words to Mary and she replied “Be it done unto me according to your word.” Luke 1:38) whether it was Eve, or Mary or the church, the bride of Christ is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

We can no longer think of ourselves as babies desiring the sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2).  We must follow on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3) and let the seed of the word grow within us until we all come in the unity of faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, a perfect or mature human being unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.“ (Ephesians 4:13)  We must leave the milk and eat the meat of experience (John 4 “I have meat to eat that ye know not of . . .” and Hebrews 5:12 – 14 “strong meat belongs to those that are of full age whose senses are trained or exercised to discern right from wrong, good from evil”) and practice using the word of God to fight battles and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18).  Let us look back on the birth of Jesus but let the stories found there impact our present and our futures.

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)