Word of The Father – Day 14
When Christ came to earth in incarnation, He came as the One Who “is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) He was the One Who made all things and in whom all things hold together. (Col 1:17) Yet He was also a baby, born in a manger that HE made…surrounded by people HE created… accompanied by angels Who had just served HIM. As difficult as it is for us to juxtapose all of that into one person without losing either His Deity or His humanity, this is precisely the One the Bible points to as the Christ Who was to come.
We could easily dismiss the Christmas account, explain away the humility and humanity of the incarnation as best we could, and simply worship One Who may or may not exist somewhere “out there.” Or we could sentimentalize the Christmas story and tear away the Deity of Jesus making the baby a welfare case that needed to be pitied… not worshiped. Some have chosen that route.
And yet the Bible tenaciously holds to the proclamation that, in that baby lying in an animal shed behind a Middle Eastern hostel in an occupied Roman territory, circa 1 AD GOD DWELT. God came down. The Word of the Father, now in fleshed appeared.
And we beheld His glory… and we behold it again at Christmas. Our Christmas lights, as prevalent as they are this time of year, can only dimly remind us of the glory that was contained in that newborn body. His nine-month journey within the body of a Jewish adolescent now completed, Jesus entered our world cold, hungry, and completely helpless.
God. Helpless.
We cannot imagine the humility this took; we cannot understand the condescension of the Savior to this level. All we can do is sit back… and let the wonder in.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him, CHRIST THE LORD!
“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself nothing….” (Philippians 2:5-6)
FOR REFLECTION: How will the truth of Jesus’ incarnation enrich your Christmas celebration this year?
