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Christmas is all about God speaking to us.

Now that seems like an unusual claim considering that it is at Christmas that we chiefly contemplate the birth of Jesus, and newborns are not well known for their eloquent speech.

Sure, a lot of speaking (and singing) accompanied the birth of Jesus, with angelic messengers and choirs featuring strongly. But the claim of the Scriptures is that in the coming of Jesus into the world God has spoken his last word.

In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read that In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

Referring to what we call the Old Testament we are reminded that in the past God spoke, but he did it in installments.  He revealed himself piece by piece, one chapter at a time. He spoke in a burning bush to Moses. He spoke out of the thunder at Mt Sinai in the hearing of all Israel. At other times he spoke through prophets, songwriters, donkeys, and even by miraculous writing on the wall. Now everything has changed because God has spoken by his Son. In the past there was an on-going progressive revelation by God, but now he has spoken finally and completely in Jesus. As soon as Jesus arrives, we reach the last chapter of the book, nothing more needs to be added.

The reason why God speaking to us by his Son must be the complete, ultimate and final word is because of who Jesus is. Hebrews 1:3 gives us Jesus’ qualifications to be God’s last word. He is the Son through whom God made the universe, the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of his being. He sustains all things in creation by his own powerful word. He is also the one who made the perfect once for all sacrifice to purify us from our sins, and having finished the job sat down with all glory and power. The Son has come, and so God has spoken.

In the word of the Apostle John – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).

It is no surprise then that during his earthly ministry Jesus’ priority was to speak. In Mark 1 as Jesus’ popularity surged and everyone was searching for him to deliver miracles, healing and the spectacular, Jesus tells his disciples, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38)

So what do we do in response to this? Well, the author of the Hebrews  continues  in  2:1, We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

We do not listen to Jesus’ word just because it is the right thing to do, or because it will help us in our day to day lives. We pay careful attention because this is the word of the Son. The alternative is to drift away. This is the image of a boat which has lost its moorings and gradually, almost imperceptibly, drifts away from the dock. All too soon it is so far out to sea that there is little hope of return. That is exactly how people give up on Jesus. It is seldom an overnight decision, but rather a gradual slipping away.  

This Christmas and into the new year this must be our shared commitment – to listen to the word of the Son. Let’s not be those that drift. The heart of Christian faith and life is listening to the word of God and paying careful attention to it. At Christmas we recall the word has come near, God has spoken, and we must heed the call

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

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