The Glorious Birth: Justification of Honor and Truth

Follow us on the web

Subscribe to the Diocese's Email List

Join to receive messages from His Grace and event reminders or update your information.

home › resources › literature › The Glorious Birth: Justification of Honor and Truth

"...But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
The Glorious Nativity is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Word becoming human with a physical body and rational soul to dwell among us. Through this incarnated birth Pure Honor was manifested: an honor of loving kindness, an honor of humbleness, and an honor of courageousness in communion with God was given unto us "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6,7); an honor not sought out, nor claimed through birthright, but one born out of purity.

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel" (Matthew 2:6).

When the wise men from afar asked King Herod, the great King of Judah, where the newborn King of the Jews was, neither Herod nor his chief priests including the high priest himself had any knowledge that the Messiah had been born. Although the scribes had certainly been aware through prophecies that the Messiah was to be born and had known where this birth would take place, yet they themselves were not privileged to the actual birth's occurrence. It is thus apparent that those of earthly honor are not allowed to honor the Christ Child's birth. On the other hand, the wise men of non-Judean descent and the lowly, poor shepherds in nearby fields tending their sheep were the only ones informed of the extraordinary Heavenly birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only were they told of the event but were allowed to actually honor the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves. It is through the vale of "noble and good hearts" (Luke 8:15) that these men were allowed to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.

Melito the bishop of Sardis in Asia (c. 170) and a recognized early church father sums up the Glorious Nativity beautifully as he writes,

"Though the Son was incorporeal, He formed for Himself a human body after our fashion. He appeared as one of the sheep; yet, He still remained the Shepherd. He was esteemed a servant; yet He did not renounce the Sonship. He was carried in the womb of Mary, yet arrayed in the nature of His Father. He walked upon the earth, yet He filled Heaven. He appeared as an infant, yet He did not discard the eternity of His nature. He was invested with a body, but it did not circumscribe the unmixed simplicity of His DivinityHe needed sustenance inasmuch as He was born a man; yet He did not cease to feed the entire world inasmuch as He is God. He put on the likeness of a servant while not impairing the likeness of His Father."

St. John Saba, the Spiritual Elder, also details the Glorious Nativity heartfelt through his prayer...

"You were born in my image in order to give birth to me Your image. You were born in a cave like those who have no home or a place to go to, while You are the Creator of Heaven and earth, and the Refuge of all the world. You were wrapped in rags and laid on the dust in the manger like the poorest in this world and You are the source of wealth and the pride of life. They carried You as a Child and escaped from an unjust person, and You are the Haven of the tired and the Refuge for the escapee..."

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ not assume in entirety the honor and glory that were due Him as the Lord and Creator of all? Would not an easy life and one lived and enjoyed to its fullest have been a better choice? The answer is certainly evident in the way He had chosen to be born and to live His earthly life. He knew before hand that His spiritual life was more important and definitely more everlasting. The devil would come to show the Lord Jesus Christ the world "in a moment of time" and all its earthly treasures but the Lord was not tempted; as He desired a life everlasting not one lived in a short time span.

Why was the Lord Jesus Christ not born into a life of earthly prestige? Perhaps He did not desire anything earthly because He had a full knowledge of the Heavenly life. The Heavenly life, a spiritual life of everlasting destiny, was preferred to an earthly time constrained one, the earthly honors of which counted for nothing in Heaven.

As demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ's life on earth, a lot of perils and dangers will threaten those who seek to live a spiritual life away from fame, glory and honor. Such perils threatened the very existence of the Lord Jesus Christ from the very beginning. Immediately after He had been born, King Herod, the great King of Judah, massacred a lot of children in order to ensure eliminating the One whom he feared would take his position of honor as "king" away from him (Matthew 2). It is true that many Jews at the time of the Lord Jesus Christ believed in Him and the essence of His message; but "because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42,43).

St. Eronimos explained this point further by saying, "It is very difficult for a person to enjoy present and future earthly benefits (honors) and to go from temporary to the permanent everlasting joys and to expect to be honored here and there."

Illustrated by our Lord's holy example, we will encounter pure honor and truth in the Lord's Words to Pilate:

"Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then?' Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37).

When asked by Pilate to verify the truth about himself whether He was born a king, the Lord Jesus Christ admitted with purity of honor. However, He did not do so overtly in order not to usurp Pilate's authority, nor bring him down on his knees in fear and worship of Him. We know He was certainly capable of making Pilate do so. Our Lord Jesus Christ brings the truth to Pilate with pure honor. Thus out of Pilate's mouth came the confirming words that Christ was and is the king.

However, in the midst of this particular situation, while the Lord spoke the truth, earthly honor kept Pilate from releasing the innocent and detained him from standing up for what was right. While Pilate condemned the Lord Jesus Christ, he also sought His release having been well convinced of His righteousness. Yet to his discredit, he was afraid of losing his earthly position (John 19:12,13).

The very wise Sirach said, "Do not ask the Lord for high office or the king for preferment" (Sirach 7:4) thus confirming that during this Old Testament era, titles, positions, and wealth were considered to be ephemeral, of this world and trivial for Heavenly advancement. With his example, our Lord Jesus Christ proved it to be so.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Through the Glorious Nativity, Truth has been exemplified; through the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, Love has been manifested; and in the keeping of His promises His faithfulness has been proven. Through His example, His Holy Word has been taught; His Covenant has been established; His precious gifts have been bestowed; and the everlasting salvation has been guaranteed to those who abide in His Truth.

It is written "...But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). The Glorious Nativity gave birth to the Incarnate Son of God and within this Immaculate Conception; birth was also given to purity of honor and truth for the righteous. Years later St. Paul would instruct, "Knowledge puffs up (seeking honor), but love (the truth) edifies" (I Corinthians 8:1).

One Word would suffice to summarize honor and truth fully and succinctly. "Love" would be that most eloquent and expressive one. St. John the apostle, widely recognized for his great love for the Lord Jesus Christ, conveyed this truth in his preaching, his sermons, his Epistles and His Holy Gospel. When St. John became old and unable to preach, he would be carried to the church and placed among the believers to whom he would say, "My children love one another." He believed this was the ultimate message and tenet brought forth from the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. That honor and truth summed up in the one word was sufficient to take our Lord to the Cross for our salvation.

Contemplating the life that sprang forth from the Glorious Nativity, St. Pachomius retrospectively said:

"If somebody honors you, let not your heart rejoice, but lament. Paul and Barnabas, when people honored them, they tore off their clothes, and Peter and the rest of the disciples when they were wrongly accused and were whipped, they rejoiced, because they were worthy to be abused for the sake of the Great Name."

The Lord Jesus Christ's holy birth has advanced the lives of infants, children, and youth who are pure in spirit and who do not seek honor at such an age. The Lord Jesus Christ's holy birth advanced the poor in spirit; those who do not seek earthly honors. Lord Jesus Christ's holy birth advanced the mistreated and abused of this world.

St Isaac the Syrian reiterated: "Whoever runs after honor, honor escapes him, and whoever escapes from it knowingly, it follows him and directs people to him." So, with these golden words of St. Isaac and with the example given by our Lord Himself of Lazarus, the poor man, who "desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table" but ended up in Abraham's bosom in Paradise; and of the rich man who had lived in richness and fame all his earthly life; but ended up yearning for a cool finger tip with which to cool his tongue burning in Hades (Luke 16:19-31); let us all remember the Holy Glorious Honorable and Truth-seeking Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in a manger, the intent of which has been to justify and confirm Honor and Truth. Glory be to God forever, Amen.

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States