John 1:14-17 and Hebrews: 2:14
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the uniquely begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
It’s called Christmas! Emmanuel, God with us, yes, the incarnate Christ. In Him, we see God’s glory, glory as of the uniquely begotten Son. One key reason that Jesus came here was to reveal God’s marvelous glory and then make a way to make us sharers in it.
Read on in Hebrews: 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Since a key part of being human is sharing in flesh and blood, Jesus took on a human body of His own so that He could die and resurrect thus rendering the devil powerless by canceling the fear of death.
Mankind’s first glimpse at the glory of God other than Joseph and Mary was caught by the shepherds who followed the angels to the manger and they were dazzled by baby Jesus. The angels brought some glory with them as well. Glory? Yes, that overwhelmingly palpable sense of the brilliance generated by God’s presence.
God’s glory in the Old Testament was terrifying, mystifying, and unapproachable, but now in Jesus, God’s power is presented wrapped in His kindness. It is powerful, but not threatening. Have you ever encountered it? How did it impact your life?