Christians bristle at the first mention of “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Xmas” each Christmas season. We understandably get upset when greeting card companies and retailers refuse to utter the words “Merry Christmas” – redefining the holiday ostensibly not to offend, yet obviously to maximize profits.
We want nothing more this Christmas than to see people celebrating the true “reason for the season”. We wish every man, woman and child recognized Jesus for who He is – Lord and Savior. We hope friends, neighbors, and coworkers get the gift they need most this Christmas – God’s grace and forgiveness. Regifting is normally tacky, but not when it’s redemption and reconciliation with our Father. It would be a shame to miss the perfect opportunity Christmas provides to convey the Father’s unconditional love.
How do we share the Gospel message such that it convinces non-believers that Jesus is the answer to life’s most burning questions? Words alone are rarely enough. Jesus had the perfect words but led with actions, not words. In fact, nearly every time someone acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, it was because of His acts of mercy and compassion…
“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs He was performing and believed in His name.” (John 2:23)
It’s no different today. Non-believers recognize Jesus in us when they see His love flowing through us. They assume that if someone is willing to help, then they may be a source of hope as well. It’s our actions (Care), followed by our words (Share), understanding only God can save (Prayer), that open eyes to see and ears to hear.
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” (John 4:48)
What signs and wonders do people need to see? The arrogant and unbelieving sarcastically asked Jesus to perform a magic trick for self-interest or self-preservation, associating Him with their own self-centered priorities. However, the humble expectantly asked for practical help, like healing or food. They were in need – simply and sincerely requesting kindness.
How People Recognized Jesus…
The arrogant and humble were alike in one respect – they wouldn’t consider believing unless they saw Jesus do something to demonstrate His love and power. Jesus refused to perform on demand if intended as a test but fulfilled requests rooted in faith and authenticity. As a result, many who were lowly and oppressed witnessed miracles and were deeply impacted, while those with superiority complexes rarely got to see Jesus in action – or acknowledged His divinity when they did.
- John recognized Jesus, exclaiming “It is the Lord” only after He filled their nets with fish (John 21:6-7)
- The two men Jesus met on the road to Emmaus recognized Christ only after He handed them bread to eat (Luke 24:28-35)
- The royal official recognized and believed in Jesus only after his son was healed (John 4:53)
- The man born blind recognized Jesus as God’s son only after He was healed (John 9:35-38)
- The disciples recognized it was Jesus and not a ghost only after He saved Peter from drowning (Matthew 14:26-33)
- The city of Genneseret recognized Jesus for His ability to heal and brought Him all who were ill (Matthew 14:34-36)
- The woman at the well recognized Jesus as a prophet (and the Messiah) only after He conveyed an intimate knowledge of her personal history (John 4:7-30; 39-42)
- Nathaniel recognized Jesus as the Son of God only after He showed He cared enough to understand and acknowledge him personally (John 1:47-49)
- Mary recognized Jesus was not the gardener only after He spoke her name (John 20:14-16)
- The Roman soldier recognized Jesus was the Son of God only after He died for our sins (Matthew 27:50-54)
The lesson is clear – people won’t recognize Jesus in our lives or in His Church if we don’t take action. Pastors can’t “outpreach” Jesus. Even He saw the need to open hearts and minds to the Gospel through compassion. No one recognized Jesus as the Messiah simply because He told them He was. Churches followed that example for 1,900 years, serving on the “front lines” in communities across the globe – starting the hospitals, schools, food banks, rescue missions, and foster homes. Yet today, few churches commit more than 1% of their time, energy, and budget to local missions.
How People Recognize Jesus in Us…
Not only do those examples from Scripture tell us how others recognize Jesus in us, but also how Jesus recognizes His followers. Many Christians are uncomfortable reading Jesus’ parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 and His warnings in Matthew 7 (about highly “religious” people finding themselves on the outside looking in on Judgement Day). We’re saved by grace, not works, yet James contends that faith without works is dead. Jesus even questioned whether someone professing faith who doesn’t feed the hungry, clothe the destitute, and visit those imprisoned (for their faith in Christ) is really a Christian.
So Christ-followers are recognized by both God and mankind by what they do for others, not what they say or do “for God”. Jesus was toughest on those who were the toughest on the poor (arrogant) and used those who were toughest on themselves (humble). God recognizes greatness in low places where we usually look for it in elevated status. Jesus says we will recognize false prophets and true believers by their fruit. And most fruits of the Spirit have to do with how we treat others.
Jesus came to give sight to the blind. The spiritual leaders of that time claimed they could see, but did not recognize Jesus or John the Baptist. Their eyesight was blurred by a lack of compassion for those with 20/20 vision, the poor and meek. Those blinded by selfish ambition or vain conceit don’t recognize or respond to the needs around them. Churches focused on attracting and retaining members rather than equipping and deploying disciples will miss the opportunity this Christmas to remind their community that the holiday is about Jesus. Because fewer churches live out Jesus’ model of leading with acts of service, fewer Americans acknowledge Jesus as Lord. As the evil spirit said in Acts 19, “Jesus I know, and Paul and I know about, but who are you?”
A community takes notice and sees Jesus in a church where His love pours out of it. If churches were still the first place people thought of when they needed help, fewer would consider Christians hypocritical and judgmental. There’s something alluring about a church that breaks the mold, externally-focused while others worry about growth or survival. It’s not typical to find an established church investing substantially in discipleship and compassion – core elements of Jesus’ ministry. Many church plants start that way when there’s little to lose, but rarely do pastors retain their initial vision of personal and community transformation as time and resource demands increase with more members, facilities, staff, and performance expectations.
It’s Your Turn…
At Christmas, it’s tempting to get caught up in fulfilling social obligations and lured by slick advertising into consumerism. However, running yourself ragged and enduring bedlam at the mall to purchase quickly discarded gifts isn’t God’s plan for Christmas. This year, invest your energy and money in demonstrating the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus within your circles of influence. Only then will your neighbors, family, friends, and coworkers be open to hearing about the hope you have within you.
