The message of Christmas is simple enough for a child to understand

By Dean Collins

‬‬I got a text from my 10-year-old grandson at a little after 7:00 this morning while I was reading and thinking about 1 John 1. I was going back and forth between John 1 and 1 John 1. John starts each of these writings similarly. In his Gospel, he calls Jesus the Word and writes that Jesus was with God and was God. In his first of three letters, John established that he saw, heard, and touched Jesus. These two chapters have been studied by scholars for centuries. Thousands of pages have been written about the incarnation. And whole books have been written about these passages.

So I sat staring at the beauty and power of these two sections of Scripture, wondering what I could possibly add, when my text from my grandson arrived. He’s a smart kid. (All of my grandchildren are exceptional. I suspect yours are as well.) The text was simple: “Good morning.” And then he told me the number of days until Christmas Day, the day Jesus was born. It was followed by an image of the Christ child in a manger.

Deep, profound, simple, hopeful

As I was wrestling with all of the deep and profound mystery of God becoming flesh and trying to grasp his dwelling here on earth, my grandson was simply excited about the birth of Jesus. He wasn’t focused on how many days till Santa Claus slides down the chimney. His heart and mind were focused on the Savior of the world being born in a manger.

Suddenly the passage in John 1 became more hopeful. Not that we always need more and more evidence of the incarnation in order to have confidence in our salvation and eternal destiny, but my grandson’s enthusiasm about the birth of Jesus gave me encouragement. The light does shine in the darkness, even today. And the darkness has never overcome the light. The message of Jesus continues to penetrate the hearts of not just the old but also the young. And you don’t have to fully understand all of the rich theology contained in John and 1 John to celebrate the birth of Christ. In fact, maybe we ought to imagine approaching the season with the eyes of childlike faith.

My grandson had no say in his birth. The same is true for all of us. Our parents made a decision, and we are the result of their decision. But faith does allow us to become children of God as we receive the gift of Jesus. And when we do, we behold his glory in a new and miraculous way.

Personal, communal, complete

John also reminds us in 1 John that the gift of Jesus is personal yet communal. Our faith in Jesus as the light of the world means we are a part of both a rich historical family and one that will continue to expand until Jesus returns. Then we will see all of our brothers and sisters and celebrate a Christmas that is frankly impossible to imagine.

My grandson’s text is a good reminder that while giving gifts to our grandchildren is fun, the most important thing we can do is share the gift of Jesus with them, not just at Christmas but every day. John reminds us of the fellowship we all share with Jesus and that a by-product of this fellowship is our joy made complete.

As we await the coming of Jesus once again, I pray your joy would be full and complete. One way to make this happen is to talk to your grandchildren and, honestly, anyone about Jesus.

Your time with God’s Word
John‬ ‭1:1-5, 9-14; ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:1-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Maël BALLAND from Pexels

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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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The best gift: our standing in Christ is the same as the apostle’s