Image or Presence?

December 19, 2025 • Listen on Spotify

TRANSCRIPT

I recently read about the two often competing values of image and presence. I couldn’t help but to view these two ideals through the lens of Christmas. You know, we live in a world that’s obsessed with our image. But how does Jesus inform our understanding of modern life?

Well, if we rewind the tape 2,000 years ago, we would see the humble beginnings of Jesus in Bethlehem. His image was unappealing, but his presence was palpable. It was real. It was tangible. God was more concerned about his personal arrival than his external appearance.

And you know, Christmas teaches us about the proximity of God.

Jesus didn’t just send good news. He delivered it. Jesus didn’t just talk about virtue. He demonstrated it. His ministry was, by definition, incarnate. He gave us the greatest gift of all, his presence.

And this is one of the many implications of Christmas for believers today. You see, when we become obsessed with our image at the expense of presence, we lose the power of the gospel.

Image is the currency of the world. Presence is the currency of Christ.