The Supreme Reveal
The Supreme Reveal: God's Love Made Manifest
There's something magical about a reveal party. That moment of anticipation, the collective joy, the celebration of something wonderful coming into the world. In our modern culture, we've turned gender reveals into elaborate celebrations—sometimes with disastrous results, but often with creative genius. Yet for all our cultural innovations, we have nothing on the greatest reveal party in history.
Two thousand years ago, in a humble stable in Bethlehem, the universe witnessed the ultimate reveal—not of a gender, not of a surprise, but of God Himself stepping into human history. This wasn't a party with balloons and confetti. There was no bubble machine or elaborate decorations. Just a manger, some animals, a young couple, and the cry of a newborn baby who would change everything.
Love Explained
The apostle John wrote something profound in his first letter: "By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). This single verse unpacks the entire Christmas story and reveals something fundamental about who God is.
Throughout Scripture, particularly in John's writings, one theme emerges again and again: God is love. This isn't just an attribute God possesses, like strength or wisdom. This is the essential character of God. Love isn't something God does; it's who God is at His very core.
But what kind of love are we talking about? Let's explore its components.
It's Eternal. The prophet Jeremiah heard God say, "I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3). There was never a time when this love didn't exist. It doesn't have a beginning or an end. God's love simply is—eternal, unchanging, constant.
It's Covenantal. In Deuteronomy, we read that God "keeps covenant and lovingkindness to a thousandth generation" (Deuteronomy 7:9). God's love isn't fickle or conditional based on His mood. It's bound up in promises He makes and keeps. When God says He loves us, it's not empty sentiment—it's a binding agreement, a covenant He will never break.
It's Lavish. Perhaps nowhere is this clearer than in Exodus 34:6-7, where God describes Himself as "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness." The word "abounding" suggests overflow, abundance, more than enough. God doesn't ration His love like we're on a limited supply. He pours it out lavishly.
It's Unconditional. Paul captured this beautifully in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Notice the timing. Not when we cleaned ourselves up. Not when we deserved it. While we were still sinners—at our absolute worst—God sent His best. No prerequisites. No conditions. Just love.
It's Unselfish. God didn't need to send Jesus for His own benefit. He wasn't lacking anything. The incarnation—God taking on human flesh—was entirely for our sake. It was the ultimate unselfish act, meeting a need we couldn't meet ourselves.
Love Proved
But God didn't just talk about love. He manifested it. He made it real. He showed it.
Think about it: anyone can say "I love you." Those words can become routine, even meaningless if they're not backed up by action. God didn't fall into that trap. He demonstrated His love in the most tangible way possible—by sending His only Son.
That phrase "only begotten" means unique, one of a kind. There's no replacement Jesus. No backup plan. God sent His most precious, His irreplaceable Son, to accomplish something we couldn't do ourselves.
What was that something? John calls it "propitiation"—a big theological word that simply means Jesus appeased God's righteous anger toward sin and secured His favor for us. Sin has consequences. God's justice demands it. But Jesus took those consequences upon Himself, removing God's wrath from us and placing us in His favor instead.
The result? Life. Abundant life. Eternal life. As Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." This isn't just about existing or even about living comfortably. It's about knowing Christ, experiencing God's love, and having the assurance that our sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven.
And here's the remarkable thing: this offer wasn't reserved for the deserving or the lovely. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, a city that killed prophets. On the cross, as nails pierced His hands and feet, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Even in His agony, He extended love to the unlovely.
Love Imitated
So what do we do with this love? John doesn't leave us wondering: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11).
That word "ought" isn't a suggestion. It's entirely appropriate given what God has done for us. Because we have been loved, we are called to love in return. Not to earn God's favor—we already have it—but because we've received it.
This means replicating God's love in our own lives. Loving not just those who agree with us or pat us on the back, but also those who are difficult, those who oppose us, even those who are frankly unlovely.
What does this look like practically?
Pray for one another. Intercession is one of the greatest expressions of love.
Encourage each other. Instead of being quick to criticize or point out flaws, be quicker to build others up.
Serve one another. The world doesn't revolve around any of us. Following Jesus' example means kneeling down to serve.
Share Christ with others. Telling people about the gospel is one of the most precious ways to show love.
Forgive freely. God has showered us with grace and forgiveness. We're called to extend the same to others.
The Humble Manger
Here's the beautiful paradox of Christmas: a humble manger reveals the greatness of God's love. The King of the universe didn't arrive with fanfare and pageantry. He came quietly, vulnerably, as a baby born to peasant parents in a stable.
But that humble beginning pointed to the most significant event in human history. Jesus was born to die. And His death was the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.
This Christmas season, amid all the celebrations and parties, may we never overlook this supreme reveal—God putting on flesh, being born in a manger, all because He loves us with an eternal, covenantal, lavish, unconditional, and unselfish love.
The greatest reveal party in history still impacts us today because that love endures. It's still eternal, still covenantal, still lavish, still unconditional, still unselfish. And it's available to anyone who will receive it.
That's news worth celebrating.
In Christ's love,
There's something magical about a reveal party. That moment of anticipation, the collective joy, the celebration of something wonderful coming into the world. In our modern culture, we've turned gender reveals into elaborate celebrations—sometimes with disastrous results, but often with creative genius. Yet for all our cultural innovations, we have nothing on the greatest reveal party in history.
Two thousand years ago, in a humble stable in Bethlehem, the universe witnessed the ultimate reveal—not of a gender, not of a surprise, but of God Himself stepping into human history. This wasn't a party with balloons and confetti. There was no bubble machine or elaborate decorations. Just a manger, some animals, a young couple, and the cry of a newborn baby who would change everything.
Love Explained
The apostle John wrote something profound in his first letter: "By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). This single verse unpacks the entire Christmas story and reveals something fundamental about who God is.
Throughout Scripture, particularly in John's writings, one theme emerges again and again: God is love. This isn't just an attribute God possesses, like strength or wisdom. This is the essential character of God. Love isn't something God does; it's who God is at His very core.
But what kind of love are we talking about? Let's explore its components.
It's Eternal. The prophet Jeremiah heard God say, "I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3). There was never a time when this love didn't exist. It doesn't have a beginning or an end. God's love simply is—eternal, unchanging, constant.
It's Covenantal. In Deuteronomy, we read that God "keeps covenant and lovingkindness to a thousandth generation" (Deuteronomy 7:9). God's love isn't fickle or conditional based on His mood. It's bound up in promises He makes and keeps. When God says He loves us, it's not empty sentiment—it's a binding agreement, a covenant He will never break.
It's Lavish. Perhaps nowhere is this clearer than in Exodus 34:6-7, where God describes Himself as "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness." The word "abounding" suggests overflow, abundance, more than enough. God doesn't ration His love like we're on a limited supply. He pours it out lavishly.
It's Unconditional. Paul captured this beautifully in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Notice the timing. Not when we cleaned ourselves up. Not when we deserved it. While we were still sinners—at our absolute worst—God sent His best. No prerequisites. No conditions. Just love.
It's Unselfish. God didn't need to send Jesus for His own benefit. He wasn't lacking anything. The incarnation—God taking on human flesh—was entirely for our sake. It was the ultimate unselfish act, meeting a need we couldn't meet ourselves.
Love Proved
But God didn't just talk about love. He manifested it. He made it real. He showed it.
Think about it: anyone can say "I love you." Those words can become routine, even meaningless if they're not backed up by action. God didn't fall into that trap. He demonstrated His love in the most tangible way possible—by sending His only Son.
That phrase "only begotten" means unique, one of a kind. There's no replacement Jesus. No backup plan. God sent His most precious, His irreplaceable Son, to accomplish something we couldn't do ourselves.
What was that something? John calls it "propitiation"—a big theological word that simply means Jesus appeased God's righteous anger toward sin and secured His favor for us. Sin has consequences. God's justice demands it. But Jesus took those consequences upon Himself, removing God's wrath from us and placing us in His favor instead.
The result? Life. Abundant life. Eternal life. As Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." This isn't just about existing or even about living comfortably. It's about knowing Christ, experiencing God's love, and having the assurance that our sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven.
And here's the remarkable thing: this offer wasn't reserved for the deserving or the lovely. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, a city that killed prophets. On the cross, as nails pierced His hands and feet, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Even in His agony, He extended love to the unlovely.
Love Imitated
So what do we do with this love? John doesn't leave us wondering: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11).
That word "ought" isn't a suggestion. It's entirely appropriate given what God has done for us. Because we have been loved, we are called to love in return. Not to earn God's favor—we already have it—but because we've received it.
This means replicating God's love in our own lives. Loving not just those who agree with us or pat us on the back, but also those who are difficult, those who oppose us, even those who are frankly unlovely.
What does this look like practically?
Pray for one another. Intercession is one of the greatest expressions of love.
Encourage each other. Instead of being quick to criticize or point out flaws, be quicker to build others up.
Serve one another. The world doesn't revolve around any of us. Following Jesus' example means kneeling down to serve.
Share Christ with others. Telling people about the gospel is one of the most precious ways to show love.
Forgive freely. God has showered us with grace and forgiveness. We're called to extend the same to others.
The Humble Manger
Here's the beautiful paradox of Christmas: a humble manger reveals the greatness of God's love. The King of the universe didn't arrive with fanfare and pageantry. He came quietly, vulnerably, as a baby born to peasant parents in a stable.
But that humble beginning pointed to the most significant event in human history. Jesus was born to die. And His death was the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.
This Christmas season, amid all the celebrations and parties, may we never overlook this supreme reveal—God putting on flesh, being born in a manger, all because He loves us with an eternal, covenantal, lavish, unconditional, and unselfish love.
The greatest reveal party in history still impacts us today because that love endures. It's still eternal, still covenantal, still lavish, still unconditional, still unselfish. And it's available to anyone who will receive it.
That's news worth celebrating.
In Christ's love,
Pastor Kirk Flaa
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