Jesus Is The Image Of The Invisible God

Our Lord Jesus “is the image of the invisible God.” The word “image” came from the Greek ‘eikon’ or icon. It means the exact copy or likeness. In other words, when they saw Jesus in the human flesh, they also saw the Almighty God! Whoever have seen Him, have also “seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). If God can be represented under the idea of “substance” (Heb 11:1), or being, then Jesus is the exact resemblance of Him, as an image is on a photograph (Heb 1:3). Jesus is God, the Creator of everything that exists (v. 16), both visible and invisible.

And “without Him was not any thing made that was made” (Jn 1:3)! He came into this world through the miracle of the virgin birth (Mt 1:23). He “knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). His life was pure and perfect (1 Pet 2:22), to satisfy the only payment for our sins (Rom 3:25). We celebrate Christmas because we rejoice upon God’s entrance into this dark and sinful world (Jn 3:19). He was humbly born as a baby “wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Lk 2:7), to bring light; because He is “the light of the world” (Jn 9:5).

As bible-believing Christians, we must focus our celebration in “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20), just like the shepherds did. And we must also worship our Saviour, just like the wise men, when they saw the young Jesus, and “presented unto Him gifts” (Mt 2:11). This is probably the origin of our customary giving of gifts during Christmas. However, what’s more important than material gifts is the expression of our true love, joy, peace, and the rest of “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22), during the time of family gatherings and fellowship! Celebrating the birth of Jesus means that we must give Him the “preeminence” (v. 18), in our lives every single day. Because He is the greatest “gift of God” (Eph 2:8), to us! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera