Christmas Overthrows All Governmental and Religious Powers
As we close out another year and enter the Christmas season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the profound significance of the Incarnation – when God Himself took on human flesh and entered our world as the person of Jesus Christ. This miraculous event is the foundation of our faith, and it’s crucial that we fully grasp its implications for our lives.
In this blog post, we’ll explore two key perspectives on the Christmas story, as revealed in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Through these lenses, we’ll unpack the dual nature of Christ’s coming – as the King who establishes His eternal kingdom and as the Savior who ushers in a new, Spirit-filled relationship with God. By embracing both of these truths, we can experience the fullness of what Christ’s Incarnation means for us today.
The King Has Come
The Gospel of Matthew introduces us to the Christmas story against the backdrop of a tyrannical ruler – King Herod. This wicked king, driven by a lust for power, is threatened by the news of a newborn “king of the Jews.” Herod’s murderous response, ordering the slaughter of all male children under the age of two, highlights the high stakes of Christ’s arrival.
Christ Comes to Establish His Eternal Kingdom
Matthew’s account makes it clear that Jesus Christ did not come merely as a helpless baby in a manger, but as the rightful King who would overthrow all earthly kingdoms and establish His own eternal reign. This is a crucial truth that we must embrace:
- Christ Came to Be King: The Incarnation marks the beginning of God’s plan to install Jesus as the supreme ruler over all creation. He is the long-awaited Messiah, the anointed King who would sit on the throne of David forever (Luke 1:32-33).
- Christ Came to Replace All Earthly Governments: Jesus did not come to simply add Himself to the existing political landscape, but to replace all earthly governments and authorities with His own perfect, righteous kingdom. His kingship is not limited to the spiritual realm, but has implications for every sphere of life and society.
- Christ Came to Be Lord of Our Hearts: The journey of Christ’s kingship begins in the human heart. Before He can reign over families, churches, and nations, He must first be enthroned as the sovereign Lord of our individual lives. We must surrender our own wills and agendas to His perfect rule.
Embracing Christ’s Kingship in Every Area of Life
As we reflect on Christ’s kingship this Christmas, we are called to respond by wholeheartedly embracing His lordship in every area of our lives:
- In Our Personal Lives: We must allow Christ to be the King and ruler of our hearts, minds, and wills. This means submitting our desires, decisions, and daily activities to His perfect will.
- In Our Families: As the head of the household, Christ must be the central authority and guiding force in our homes. Our families should reflect the values and priorities of His kingdom.
- In Our Churches: The local church should be a living prototype of Christ’s kingdom, where His lordship is evident in our worship, teaching, fellowship, and mission. Our assemblies must model what it looks like for Christ to reign supreme.
- In Our Work and Spheres of Influence: As ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom, we are called to bring His values, principles, and rule into every area of society – our workplaces, communities, and the public square. Our lives should be a reflection of His kingship.
This Christmas, let us embrace the truth that Jesus Christ has come as the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is not merely a helpless baby in a manger but the sovereign ruler who has come to establish His eternal kingdom. May we surrender every area of our lives to His perfect reign and work to see His kingdom come in our world.
A New Way of Walking with God
While the Gospel of Matthew emphasizes Christ’s kingship, the Gospel of Luke presents a complementary perspective on the Incarnation. Here, the backdrop is not the political landscape, but the religious system of the day. And it is within this religious context that we see Jesus ushering in a radically new way of relating to God.
The Limitations of the Religious System
In Luke’s account, we are introduced to the religious establishment of the time – represented by figures like Zechariah, a priest faithfully carrying out his duties in the temple. This religious system, with its rituals, traditions, and prescribed ways of worshiping God, had become an end in itself, rather than a means to a deeper relationship with the divine.
- Disconnected from the Spirit: The religious leaders of the day were so focused on maintaining the outward forms of their faith that they had lost touch with the living, dynamic work of the Holy Spirit. Their relationship with God had become stale and mechanical.
- Blind to the New Thing God Was Doing: Even as Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, was being brought into the temple, the religious elite were unable to recognize the profound significance of this moment. They were stuck in their familiar routines, unable to discern the new thing God was doing.
- Relying on Tradition Rather than Relationship: The religious system had become a substitute for a genuine, Spirit-led relationship with God. The people were content to go through the motions rather than seeking a living, vibrant connection with the divine.
Christ Ushers in a New Way of Walking with God
In contrast to the lifeless religious system, Luke’s Gospel introduces us to two individuals who were attuned to the Spirit’s leading – Simeon and Anna. These two prophets recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, and their response reveals the new way of relating to God that Christ came to establish:
- A Relationship Empowered by the Spirit: Simeon and Anna were not merely following the prescribed religious rituals but were in tune with the Holy Spirit’s prompting. They were able to see and celebrate the arrival of the Savior because they were walking in a living, Spirit-led relationship with God.
- A Relationship that Transcends Tradition: Rather than being bound by the limitations of the religious system, Simeon and Anna were able to see beyond the familiar routines and recognize the profound significance of Jesus’ arrival. Their relationship with God was not defined by outward forms, but by an intimate, Spirit-filled connection.
- A Relationship that Leads to Transformation: The coming of Christ ushered in a new era, where the power of the Holy Spirit would empower believers to experience a radical transformation. No longer would our relationship with God be defined by mere religious observance but by the indwelling presence and work of the Spirit in our lives.
Embracing a Spirit-Filled Relationship with God
As we celebrate the Incarnation this Christmas, we are called to embrace the new way of walking with God that Christ has made possible. Rather than being content with a lifeless religious routine, we must seek a vibrant, Spirit-empowered relationship with the divine:
- Cultivate a Sensitivity to the Spirit’s Promptings: Like Simeon and Anna, we must be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives. This requires a posture of humility, openness, and responsiveness to God’s voice.
- Transcend the Limitations of Tradition: While honouring the rich heritage of our faith, we must be willing to move beyond the confines of religious rituals and routines. Our relationship with God should be defined by a living, dynamic connection, not merely outward observance.
- Embrace the Transformative Power of the Spirit: As we walk in a Spirit-filled relationship with God, we can experience the profound, life-changing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This includes the ongoing process of sanctification, the empowerment for ministry, and the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in our character and conduct.
This Christmas, let us celebrate the Incarnation not merely as a historical event, but as the beginning of a new era – one where Christ’s kingship is established in our hearts, and where we are invited into a vibrant, Spirit-filled relationship with the living God. May our lives reflect the transformative power of this reality, as we work to see God’s kingdom come in our world.
