Springtime Nativity

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

 

This is John’s theological version of the Nativity story. It is about Incarnation. I think thoughts of Jesus entering this world just a few weeks removed from Holy Week reflections about His death and resurrection. But I am not limited to any strict liturgical church calendar guidelines when it comes to thinking about my Lord. And John’s gospel is good for breaking up the typical way of talking about Jesus (it was a purpose behind his writing). I can thin of the miracle of God come to us to redeem us at any time. Why not in spring, when the world is born again?

 

And I am filled with an awe. I remember the birth of both my children. How wonderful it is to hold a newborn (even though they are just little depraved sinners) and then to think of the perfect Son of God when He was a new arrival… God in a body, full of grace and truth! I find the thought alone just overwhelmingly beautiful!

 

So the wisdom of God’s plan of redemption is that it stirs us at this deep level. The Father’s glory touches my heart in the place where I am a father. That Jesus came at all is the greatest work that God has ever wrought into human history. I am proud of my kids and see them as my greatest work… how much more does the Father love the Son! That I have access to Him now by faith is the amazing privilege of being Christ’s disciple.

 

Technorati Tags: Christianity,Discipleship,Religion

Not your ordinary Jewish boy.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

With Christmas eve upon us, this reflection on the birth of Jesus comes at no better time for me. The angels gathered Jewish shepherds on the hills outside of Bethlehem to announce the greatest birth the world would ever know. Why God chose to keep it with these humble sheepherders is part of the wonder of the story. Jesus came to the earth in a low profile, but He would not be any ordinary Jewish peasant boy. And just enough magnificence surrounded his entrance onto the world stage to let us know this.

The shepherds must have told someone about the angelic announcement and their visit to the new Savior. Luke was able to consider it a fact about Jesus’ birth and after enough investigation, he included it at the beginning of his gospel in order to show the nature of the Incarnation. There is both theology and imaginative wonder in this passage.

Today, we will begin Christmas celebrations. Their will be a few small presents to open. Should our prophesied snowstorm in the midwest be delayed, we will hold Christmas Eve services at church where my son and I will continue our tradition of a Christmas carol guitar duet. And we will celebrate the life that Jesus has brought us. He was no ordinary little Jewish baby. He is the Savior, Christ the Lord.

Technorati Tags: Luke,Nativity,Incarnation

Gifts for the King

And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

Kingly gifts are offered to the young King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The adoration of the wise men from the East shows us just how significant Jesus is in the world and beyond it. When I combine this episode with Luke's account of the Nativity, we see incredible worship at the time of Jesus' birth. Angels announced and sang glory to God, shepherds came to marvel at the Messiah, and wise sages traveled the globe to see Him and bring him kingly gifts.

And Jesus deserves such worship today. In fact, He is still adored by angels, commoners, and kings. He is Lord and King, God and Savior, worthy of all worship. Why? Not because He stayed a safe baby in the arms of Mary, but because He lived, and died to bring us to God.

Technorati Tags: Jesus,Nativity,Christmas,Worship