The Veiled and Unveiled Glory of Christmas!
The Incarnate and Preeminent Christ- 3
TITLE: The Veiled and Unveiled Glory of Christmas!
TEXT: Luke 2:8–20; Colossians 1:15–20
THESIS: The birth of Christ reveals the paradoxical nature of God’s glory—veiled in the humility of a manger yet unmistakably unveiled through divine revelation—demonstrating that the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, who bridges heaven and earth for the redemption of all.
TRUTH: The paradox of Christmas lies in the astonishing mystery that the eternal, preeminent Son of God—who is infinitely glorious, all-powerful, and the Creator of all—humbled Himself to take on fragile human flesh as a helpless baby. In the Incarnation, Christ did not set aside His divine nature or majesty, but rather veiled it within true humanity, entering into the lowliest of circumstances. Thus, the child in the manger is both fully God and fully man: the Lord of the universe wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Word made flesh, whose divine glory shines all the brighter through His profound humility.
I. The Birth Narrative: Humility and Wonder (Luke 2:8–20)
Explanation: In the darkness of night, shepherds kept watch—ordinary people, often overlooked and marginalized. Suddenly, the sky exploded with the brilliance of God’s glory as angels announced the birth of the Savior. The message wasn’t delivered to royalty or religious elite, but to those on the fringes.
The sign given was not a palace or a throne, but a humble manger—God’s arrival in utter simplicity.
Who were the shepherds?
The shepherds were ordinary people, often seen as among the lowest in social status in ancient Jewish society. Their work was physically demanding and kept them away from religious and social life, making them somewhat marginalized.
Despite their humble status, shepherds were also respected for their role in tending sheep, which were important for religious sacrifices in Jerusalem.
Why was Christ first announced to the shepherds?
Symbol of humility: Announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds highlights God’s choice to reveal the good news to the humble and lowly, not just the powerful or elite. It demonstrates that Jesus came for all people, regardless of their social standing.
Fulfillment of prophecy: The Messiah was expected to have a connection with shepherding, as King David, Israel’s greatest king, was once a shepherd. Jesus is later called the “Good Shepherd” in Christian teachings.
Contrast with expectations: In ancient times, people might have expected such an important announcement to go to religious leaders or royalty. Instead, God’s message went to those on the margins, showing the inclusive nature of the Gospel.
Illustration: Imagine a modern-day breaking news event that skips over heads of state and celebrities, instead appearing in a homeless shelter or a refugee camp. God chooses the lowly to reveal his greatest gift.
Application: No one is too insignificant for God’s attention. The invitation to witness Christ is for all, regardless of background, status, or past. Like the shepherds, we are beckoned to come and see.
II. The Glory of God—Unveiled and Veiled
A. What is the Glory of God?
Explanation: The glory of God represents His radiant, overwhelming presence and character. In the Old Testament, God’s glory is depicted as a consuming fire on Sinai, a blazing cloud in the tabernacle, and the dazzling vision Isaiah saw in the temple. To encounter such glory was to be awestruck and undone.
Here are examples of God's manifest glory in scripture, especially in the Old Testament (often abbreviated as "OT"):
The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1–6): God appears to Moses in a bush that burns but remains unscathed. The glory of God is manifested in the miraculous fire and His voice. “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush...” (Exodus 3:2)
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire (Exodus 13:21–22): God leads the Israelites through the wilderness as a visible pillar of cloud by day and fire by night—a tangible sign of His presence and glory. “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire...” (Exodus 13:21)
Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–20; 24:16–17): When God gives the Law to Moses, His glory is displayed as thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and fire on the mountain. “The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days, the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.” (Exodus 24:16–17)
The Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–35): God’s glory fills the Tabernacle once it is completed. “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34)
The Dedication of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10–11; 2 Chronicles 5:13–14): At the dedication of the first temple, the glory of the Lord fills the house in the form of a cloud. “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:10–11)
Isaiah’s Vision (Isaiah 6:1–4): The prophet Isaiah sees the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, with seraphim calling, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Ezekiel’s Vision (Ezekiel 1:28; 10:4): Ezekiel sees visions of God’s glory as a brilliant, radiant presence, often described as a “likeness of the glory of the Lord.” “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord...” (Ezekiel 1:28)
Illustration: Think of standing before a roaring waterfall or beneath a star-filled sky—moments that leave us breathless. Even these are but faint echoes of God’s glory.
B. Glory Unveiled: The Cosmic Christ (Colossians 1:15–20)
Explanation: Paul’s Christ hymn soars: Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Creator and Sustainer of all. The One born in Bethlehem is the very One who spoke galaxies into being, who holds the universe together by His word.
In Christ, God’s glory is fully displayed—He is the fullness of God in bodily form.
Angelic Proclamation: Angels appear to shepherds, proclaiming the birth of the Savior with glory shining around them and praising God—a supernatural display. “The glory of the Lord shone around them... Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel...” (Luke 2:9,13)
Divine Titles and Prophecy: He is called “Savior,” “Christ the Lord,” “Immanuel” (God with us), fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the coming glorious King and Redeemer.
Miraculous Signs: The virgin birth itself is a miracle, and the guiding star that leads the Magi is a supernatural sign.
Worship by Magi: Wise men from the East bring gifts and worship Him, recognizing His kingship and divinity.
Unveiled: God gives glimpses of who Jesus truly is through angelic announcements, fulfilled prophecies, miraculous events, and the adoration of both shepherds and wise men.
Illustration: It’s like realizing the unassuming carpenter in your village is actually the architect of the world’s greatest wonders.
C. Glory Veiled: God in Flesh
Explanation: And yet, this same glory is hidden. The divine radiance is wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a feeding trough. The One who fills heaven’s throne room is now dependent on a young mother.
John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory…”—but it’s a glory veiled, glimpsed in grace, truth, humility, and love.
The birth of Christ (the Nativity) presents a profound paradox: the glory of Christ is both veiled and unveiled. This mystery is central to the Christian understanding of the incarnation—God becoming man. How is it veiled?
Humble Circumstances: Jesus is born in a stable, laid in a manger (a feeding trough), to poor parents, in an obscure village (Bethlehem). There are no royal celebrations or public fanfare.
Ordinary Appearance: He comes as a helpless baby—fully human, vulnerable, dependent on His mother.
Hidden Identity: Most people do not recognize Him as the Messiah or the Son of God. Only a few—Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and later the Magi—are made aware by divine revelation. “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2, prophetic) “Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself...” (Philippians 2:8)
Veiled: Christ’s true divine glory is hidden under the ordinary, humble circumstances of His humanity and lowly birth.
Illustration: Like a priceless diamond wrapped in a plain brown paper bag—many walk by, never realizing the treasure within.
Glory veiled and unveiled: The Burning Bush
In Exodus 3, Moses encounters a bush that is on fire but is not consumed. This is described as an appearance of “the angel of the Lord,” often understood as a visible manifestation of God Himself. The key elements are:
Supernatural Presence: The bush burns with fire—often a symbol of God’s purity, power, and glory—but the bush itself is not destroyed.
Paradox: Normally, fire consumes what it burns. Here, the bush remains intact, showing a miraculous coexistence: God’s glory present in the midst of ordinary creation, without destroying it.
Holiness: God tells Moses to remove his sandals, for the ground is holy, underlining that this is a direct encounter with the divine.
Theological Significance: The burning bush is an early biblical example of God’s immanence: His willingness to draw near to humanity and creation, while His transcendence—His “otherness”—is preserved. The bush symbolizes how God can be present in the world without annihilating or overwhelming it.
Connection to the Incarnation
The Incarnation—the belief that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ—echoes this mystery:
Glory in Humility: Just as the bush holds the fire of God’s glory, the humanity of Jesus “contains” the divine nature. In John 1:14, it says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory…”
Not Consumed: Jesus, fully God and fully man, bears the fullness of deity (Colossians 2:9), yet His human nature is not destroyed or consumed by His divinity. The divine presence fills human nature, but does not obliterate it.
Symbol in Christian Tradition: Early Christian writers and theologians (such as the Church Fathers) often drew this parallel. The burning bush became a symbol of Mary, who bore Christ in her womb—God’s glory within her—yet remained unharmed, just as the bush was not consumed.
The burning bush prefigures the Incarnation by showing:
- The possibility of God’s glory dwelling within creation without destroying its nature.
- The paradox of the infinite contained within the finite.
- God’s desire to be present with His people in a way that is accessible, yet still holy and mysterious.
Application: God’s greatest glory is revealed not in displays of power, but in humility, sacrifice, and love. We are called to seek God’s presence not only in the spectacular, but also in the ordinary and unexpected. Where are we overlooking God’s glory in our daily lives because it comes in humble form?
III. The Implications for Us
EXPLANATION: The Accessibility of God’s Glory: God’s glory is no longer remote or terrifying; in Christ, it is approachable. The shepherds’ story shows anyone—no matter their status—can encounter God.
Application: Approach God with confidence and awe. Don’t let feelings of unworthiness keep you at a distance. Christ’s birth is God’s invitation for you to draw near.
Our Call to See and Reflect Glory: Mary pondered these things, treasuring the mystery. Like her, we are called to reflect on God’s veiled glory in Christ and in our own lives.
Illustration: Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we are called to reflect the character of Christ to a watching world.
Application: Look for God in the humble, the overlooked, the ordinary. Treasure moments when His presence is quietly at work.
Living in the Paradox: We are "jars of clay" carrying the treasure of Christ’s glory (2 Cor. 4:7). We embrace humility, yet carry a glorious message.
Application: Live with both humility and confidence. Let your life point others to the surprising, transforming glory of Christ—even when it appears veiled in humility and service.
The glory of God has come near, not as overwhelming spectacle, but veiled in the flesh of a baby. This paradox invites us to:
· worship with wonder,
· to seek God’s presence in unexpected places,
· and to live as humble bearers of Christ’s glory in the world.
Will we, like the shepherds, go and see? Will we, like Mary, treasure and ponder? Will we, like Christ, embrace humility as the path to true glory?
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