Christmas is a celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, "God with us." Jesus partook of flesh and blood, becoming a man.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (NKJV) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- Join in (an activity)
- Be characterized by (a quality)
- Eat or drink (something)
Partaker, metecho - literally "to have with." The word connotes a sharing in, participating of, copartnering, working in association with another, and taking part in a joint venture.
By partaking in human nature, Jesus enabled us to partake of the divine nature.
2 Peter 1:2-11 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:2-11 (NIV) Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
- 4 - "great and precious promises" -- "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20)," "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1)."
- 4 - "Partaking /participating in the divine nature" - Not that we will be God, but that we will draw from His qualities and characteristics in our spiritual growth and development. Remember definition "to be characterized by." This can be illustrated by the olive tree in Romans 11. We were "cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree," and have become "a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree." Like the engrafted branch draws its sustenance from the root, the Bible says, "if the root is holy, so are the branches."
- Verses 5-7 elaborate on these qualities:
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Communion is a beautiful observance of 'partaking’
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NKJV) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NKJV) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
When we partake in communion, it is in the context of past/present/future:
- Past - "Do this in remembrance of Me."
- Present - metecho , communion - "fellowship, participation, and sharing"; we are affirming our commitment to Him and each other
- Future - "… til He comes."
As we partake of communion today, let us also reflect upon the meaning of Christmas -- of "God with us" in the person of Jesus Christ, who partook of flesh and blood, sharing in our humanity "so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death … and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
May our communion, and our Christmas celebrations, and our fellowship after the service today be joyful celebrations of who Jesus is, what He's done, and what He's doing today, in us, among us, and through us.
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