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**And the Word became flesh (σὰρξ ἐγένετο) and pitched His tent (ἐσκήνωσεν) among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father—glory full of grace and truth. ... For from His fullness we all received even χάριν ἀντὶ (תַּחַת?) χάριτος· because the Law (ὁ νόμος | הַתּוֹרָה) was given (ἐδόθη) through (διά) Moses; Grace (ἡ χάρις | חֵן) and Truth (ἡ ἀλήθεια | אֱמֶת) came (ἐγένετο) through (διά) Jesus Christ.**

From His fullness we all received even χάριν ἀντὶ (תַּחַת?) χάριτος.

Merry Christmas!

᛭ INI ᛭

(5. Oops!: We who are evil know how to give good gifts to our children.)

“’Tis the season to be jolly!” ’Tis the season to be giving! We all know how to give gifts. (Receiving gifts freely is a bit harder.) We all know how to give gifts to our children, Jesus says. Whatever’s on their Christmas list may or may not be theirs by the end of Christmas, but we certainly wouldn’t swap it out for something worse.

“What father among you,” Jesus says, “if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” (Lk 11:11) “If he asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (Mt 7:13) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him!” (Mt 7:11) even “the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:13)

“If you who are evil know how to give…” Merry Christmas to you, too, Jesus!

(4. Ugh!: We also know how “to give back”, to payback.)

We do know how to give good gifts to our children. We also know how to give back to those who’ve given to us. White elephant gifts are not our wheelhouse. Bigger, better than last year. Giving more than what you got from someone else… They’re gifts not payments or payoffs! We know what we’ve been given, and what we’ve given in return…

**“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.” (Lk 6)** **“When you [throw a party], don’t invite [those who will] also invite you in return and you be repaid.” (Lk 14)**

But we’re not just familiar with giving back, but payback. There, too, we don’t give like we’ve been given to! It’s not: “an eye for (ἀντὶ || תַּחַת) an eye, a tooth for (ἀντὶ || תַּחַת) a tooth.” (Mt 5:38; Ex 21:24) Maybe we return in kind, maybe a bit more, just so they get the message and don’t think about doing the same to us!

Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.” (Lk 6:34)

“Even sinners love those who love them. … For even sinners do [good to those who do good to them.] … (Lk 6:32, 33) “Love your enemies,” Jesus says, “do good to those who hate you.” (Lk 6:27) “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Mt 5:44) “Then you’ll be sons of your heavenly Father,” (Mt 5:45) for “He’s kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Lk 6:35) and the “unrighteous.” (Mt 5:45) “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Lk 6:36)”

(3. Aha!: The Lord does gifts another way!)

Now, we see how merciful your heavenly Father is! How does He give gifts? Not, like us in any way! Not “eye for eye,” but “grace for grace.”

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8–9)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Ps 103:11–13)

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. (Is 40:1–2)

For from His fullness we all received even χάριν ἀντὶ (תַּחַת?) χάριτος. (Jn 1:16)

(2. Whee!: This is the glory revealed in the face of Jesus Christ!)

God’s glory is to give and give and give, not only gifts, but Himself! The Holy Trinity gives fully of Himself. “The Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father—glory full of grace and truth.”

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…we have seen it, testify to it, and proclaim it to you.” (1 Jn 1:1–2)

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. (Jn 19:34-35)

**“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”** 

God’s glory isn’t just in heaven or at Mount Sinai—not only in a manger!—but at Mount Calvary! “The Law was given,” (Jn 1) “through the hands of a mediator“ (Gal 3), “through Moses; Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ.” “Now, a mediator implies more than one, but God is one.” (Gal 3) “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” (1 Tim 2:5–6) Now that’s the glory that Christ enters into, the glory of His cross. (Jn 12) “For it’s the glory of kings to search something out, but God’s glory to hide it.” (Prov) And the true King of kings most reveals and most hides His glory in the same place: Calvary!

But that is not end of His glory. His glory shines forth through all the ends of the earth, even to you and to me. “For from His fullness we all received even χάριν ἀντὶ (תַּחַת?) χάριτος.” That means: CHRIST GIFTS GRACE FOR GRACE TO YOU!

(1. Yeah! CHRIST GIFTS GRACE FOR GRACE TO YOU!)

CHRIST GIFTS GRACE FOR GRACE TO YOU! The Lord is constantly just giving more! He gives them to you. He gives all good gifts to you in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1)—even His Son, “Light of Light,” and “light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings.”

The Lord takes what’s demanded and fulfills it. He takes the old and makes it new. He takes sin and forgives it. He takes what’s dead and resurrects it. He takes darkness and makes it light. Always more and more. Never ending, never running out. Always pouring forth and running over. Always growing more and more, never a failed crop.

Every Old Testament prophet points to the true Prophet. Every priest making sacrifice to the true Priest who’s also Sacrifice. Every king was a steward of the King of kings. Every promise “is yes,” in Jesus. Every Law is fulfilled in Jesus. He’s “Prophet like Moses,” but not a new Moses—a new and better Moses: “full of grace and truth,” “grace upon grace,” “grace for grace”!

A Moses gives way to Jesus. An Isaac, and a ram for him, gives way to the Lamb of God, the true promised and beloved Son. A forerunner John gives way to Lord and Savior Jesus. 

Full womb, “conceived by the Spirit,” gives way to a full manger, “born of the Virgin Mary.” After a full manger comes a full cross. A full cross gives way to an empty tomb. All of it for you! Has to be for you, for “from His fullness we received grace for grace.” Always more grace, more favor, more forgiveness, more life.

His Font gives way to His Holy Word. His Holy Word to preaching and absolution. Preaching and Absolution to His Holy Supper. You are His baptized child and heir. You hear His Word, receive His absolution. His body and blood for you for the forgiveness of sins. One forgiveness gives way to another. One blessing to another. One salvation to another. He just keeps piling it on. Until one day, grace for grace, breaks out at your tomb. The Lord takes a lifetime of His forgiveness showered upon you and swaps it out for resurrection and life and light that never ends for you with Him.

For from His fullness we all received even χάριν ἀντὶ (תַּחַת?) χάριτος.

Merry Christmas!

᛭ INI ᛭