Christmas at Westside
The True Story of Christmas: When God Became Visible, Vulnerable, and Victorious
Christmas is more than just a historical event that happened over 2,000 years ago. It's an ongoing story that continues to unfold in our lives today. When we understand the true meaning of Christmas, we discover that we're not just spectators watching from a distance—we're participants in God's incredible plan of redemption.
Why Does Christmas Still Matter Today?
Many people view Christmas as a beautiful story from the past, but struggle to see how it impacts their daily reality. The truth is, the story that began on that first Christmas morning is still happening today. God is still at work in the arena of your life, writing a story of redemption and hope.
The Christmas story can be understood through three powerful words that capture the entire narrative: visible, vulnerable, and victorious.
The Invisible God Became Visible
God's Ultimate Revelation
Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to humanity through prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. But Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us that "in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son." Jesus is described as "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being."
This means that Jesus is God—fully God and fully man. He is the clearest picture we have of what God is like.
How Can We Know God?
If you want to know God, look to Jesus. If you want to understand how God feels about broken, hurting people, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. God didn't want to speak through an intermediary anymore—He came Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
You cannot know God without knowing Jesus. He is the window into heaven, the window into the Father's heart. Jesus is God's final statement to the world about His nature and character.
What Does This Mean for Us?
When you want to understand God's feelings toward you, look at Jesus' death on the cross. When you want to see God's power, look at Jesus' resurrection from the dead. When you want to witness His authority, read about His miracles—how He walked on water and calmed storms with His word.
God wanted to leave no doubt about His nature and His heart for the world. That's why He came to where we are.
The Invincible God Became Vulnerable
Understanding Jesus' Power
Scripture tells us that through Jesus, God created the universe. He sustains everything—the stars, the earth, all of creation—by the mighty word of His command. Consider the sun at the center of our solar system: it's essentially a self-sustaining nuclear reactor that releases the equivalent of 1.6 trillion hydrogen bombs worth of energy every second. Jesus made that, along with trillions upon trillions of other stars.
The Bible says He holds the stars in His hands. This is a God who has never felt threatened by anything or anyone.
The Incredible Paradox
Yet this same God who holds the stars in His hands allowed Himself to be held by human hands. The God who sustains galaxies was born of a young virgin. The invincible God who cannot be threatened became a child—the most vulnerable form of human life.
This represents infinite power wrapped in weakness, unapproachable glory lying in a feeding trough.
Why Did God Choose Vulnerability?
In order to save us, Jesus had to fully enter into our situation so He could rescue us out of it. He didn't rescue us from a distance. To save us from sin and death, He had to go to war with sin and death, making Himself vulnerable to both.
You can't kill the God who lives in unapproachable light, but you can kill a man. Jesus was born so that He could die for the sins of the world on the cross.
His vulnerability also made Him approachable. While no one can approach the God who holds the stars, anyone can approach a child in a manger. The King of kings stepped off His throne and lived among us for 33 years, saying, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The Vulnerable Became Victorious
The Finished Work
Hebrews 1:3 tells us that after Jesus saved us from our sins—through His death and resurrection—"he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven."
When Jesus sat down, it signified that His work was complete. This means your sin, shame, past failures, and brokenness don't get the final word on your life.
What Victory Means for You
No matter where you are today or what you've walked through, God is not finished writing your story. Jesus sat down with all authority from heaven and earth after achieving victory over sin and death, creating a way for you to experience new life.
This new life is available to anyone and everyone. When the angels announced Christ's birth to the shepherds, they proclaimed "good news of great joy for all people."
Grace Without Prerequisites
You don't need a permission slip for grace. You don't need special credentials or to clean up your act before coming to Jesus. You don't need to get your life in order or figure out everything that's going wrong. You simply need to come to Him as you are.
Through faith in Jesus, you can walk straight into the presence of God. This is the beauty of Christmas—the vulnerable God became victorious so that you and I can experience the life He came to give us.
Life Application
This Christmas, challenge yourself to move from being a spectator to being a participant in God's ongoing story. Instead of viewing Christmas as just a historical event, recognize that God is actively working in your life today, offering you the same hope, redemption, and new life that He offered over 2,000 years ago.
Questions for Reflection:
In what areas of your life do you need to experience God becoming "visible" to you in a new way?
How might God be calling you to embrace vulnerability in your relationships or faith journey, following Jesus' example?
What would it look like for you to live as someone who truly believes that God has the final word on your story, not your past mistakes or current circumstances?
The light of the world came in Jesus Christ. No matter what darkness you may be facing, hope is available, and new life has come through Him.
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
We Three Kings - Tommee Profitt
Hark The Herald Angels Sing - North Point Worship
O Holy Night - Cece Winans
Silent Night - Highlands Worship
Joy To The World - Thrive Worship
WFC Speedway
Light Of The World - We The Kingdom
King Of Kings - Hillsong Worship
Here Comes Heaven - Elevation Worship
Holy Forever - Chris Tomlin
Silent Night - Highlands Worship
Joy To The World - Thrive Worship
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!
