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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.
This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his perfection.
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One of my sons has inherited his mother’s unfortunate tendency towards perfectionism. When he tries but fails to master some new concept in school or in play perfectly, the frustration, shame, or defensiveness—or some combination of feelings—threatens to pull him down. But just as I know he will never be perfect, our heavenly Father knows he, nor I, nor any one of us, will ever be perfect. In fact, that inability to measure up to a 100%-perfection-all-the-time-every-time standard is the very reason Jesus came.
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20
Prior to Jesus, the Israelites measured their right-standing with God through adherence to the Mosaic Law. The Law had many purposes, such as to set the nation of Israel apart from other nations, but chief among them was to reveal to God’s chosen people who he is and who they were— people who fell short of his standard of perfection, and were, therefore, in need of saving. For the people of the Law, that saving came through prescribed sacrifices, which needed to be regularly offered to the Lord.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoptions as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Immanuel came down to a broken world full of imperfect people, the spotless lamb. He faced earthly temptations, experienced the realities of this world, knew the exacting nature of high standards, and yet he remained without sin. His perfection covers our imperfection. And even more mind-blowing is that the driver behind this greatest act of all time, as identified for us in John 3:16, is God’s love for us. Timothy Keller famously says,
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
From one recovering perfectionist to anyone else out there that struggles under the weight of something that is impossible, nor was ever meant to be attained, let us give endless praise to the One who has always been, is always, will forever be Perfect.
This Advent season, let us push off the weight of guilt and shame set by impossibly high standards, not as an excuse to continue in sin, but to fall headlong into his arms of grace. He came. Jesus came. Immanuel came.
Reflection:
1. Do you tend to hold yourself up to an impossible standard or do you use grace as an excuse to continue in sin?
2. Spend some time reflecting on who Christ is and the fact that Immanuel, the Son of God, was both without sin and came to cover us with his righteousness.