It has been described as “amazing” in a well-known hymn. Another hymn states that it has a thrilling sound.

It is grace.

A common definition of grace is “undeserved love.” Sinners deserve punishment from a holy God, but instead God showers them with his love. That is grace.

Christmas puts God’s grace on display. In one of his inspired letters, the apostle Paul demonstrated how God’s grace is more than an attitude. According to the apostle’s words, God manifested grace in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. The apostle wrote, “The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11).

On that momentous night in Bethlehem, the grace of God appeared. It appeared when Jesus appeared. Jesus helps us see and understand what the grace of God is like.

Grace has a face. Tears trickled down Jesus’ face on a couple of occasions. The Lord’s face shone like the sun on the Mount of Transfiguration. During Jesus’ trial, hands slapped Jesus’ face, and people spit on it.

Grace has eyes. Jesus looked at crowds of people and had compassion on them because he saw how spiritually lost they were. The Lord looked up at a man who had climbed a tree to see him, invited himself to that man’s home, and changed his life.

Grace has ears. After not knowing his whereabouts for three days, Joseph and Mary finally found the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem, listening to God’s Word. Years later, Jesus heard many people begging for his help, and he always gave it.

Grace has hands. Jesus’ hands held some bread and fish, and Jesus multiplied that small amount of food to feed a group of thousands. The Lord laid his hands on the eyes of a man who had no vision and gave him sight. Jesus touched the coffin of a young man who was headed for burial, spoke powerful words, and raised the man to life. Those same hands rested on children as the Lord spoke words of blessing. Jesus stretched out his hands to be crucified. The last time the disciples saw Jesus before he ascended into heaven, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

Grace has feet. Jesus’ feet took him on many trips throughout Palestine as he taught in synagogues, homes, and fields. He planted his feet on the waters of the Sea of Galilee and walked out to the boat where his frightened disciples were working furiously to stay afloat. Those feet received loving service from a woman who anointed them with perfume and her tears. Proving that he was the same person who had been put to death, the resurrected Lord showed the disciples his nail-scarred feet and hands.

Grace has a heart. Jesus’ heart began beating in Mary’s womb after she conceived miraculously through the power of the Holy Spirit. That heart stopped beating on Good Friday after Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” But that heart started pulsing again three days later, and it will continue to beat throughout eternity.

And finally, grace has another kind of heart. It is a heart overflowing with love for unworthy sinners like you and me. It is a heart that desires the salvation of every human being.

God’s grace is amazing. It does have a thrilling sound. It is the sound of Christmas.

James Pope | FIC Editor

Author: James Pope
Volume 112, Number 12
Issue: December 2025