No, really, I have some stuff I just gotta say so hear me out, okay? [even though I opened with an uber lame joke ;)]
So I am reading the account of Jesus' birth last night and just a bunch of stuff hit me. It's one of those stories that some of us approach with, I've heard it all before..but really its a miraculous story that cannot be taken lightly. And today there are all these movies about finding the "true meaning" of Christmas. You know the basic Hallmark formula..female business executive (mid-twenties to thirties) is a work-alcoholic and maybe has a bad relationship past but somehow this incredibly handsome stranger tumbles into her life and teaches her what really matters, like family, joy, and love. Great movies and I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved them. And Christian values are often presented but the magnitude of Jesus' birth goes so much beyond a cute Christmas movie with a great story. It's even more than a story it's real..it's history.
You see all these church signs that say "Jesus is the reason for the season" or "Christmas is Christ" [side bar..I just googled Christmas church sign sayings and actually got some results..wow. I don't know what we would do without these endless man-made resources that surely inspire and save non-believers..*big eye roll*]. Thanks for the thought but are we really reducing Jesus Christ, God who became man for these feel good anecdotes?
Jesus is so much more than what the American Christmas, as a whole portrays. Okay, enough of my hot air..
Something that struck me especially this Christmas was that Zechariah's encounter with the angel of the Lord is the first sign of something after 400 years of SILENCE. Maybe the New Testament is just a page turn away from the Old in our Bibles, but imagine the Israelites' perspective. The joy of being chosen as God's people, the struggles they endured and often brought on themselves by their unbelief. The years they wandered in the wilderness. The judges they ran in cycles with..the spark of hope in David's reign..the flaws in his kingship that showed that he was still only human and so would the rulers after him be. The prophets that rebuked and spoke of a new era where the Messiah would reign as King. The remnant's return to their land and the years and years of waiting for this promised hope.
It wasn't what they had expected. Just another day serving as a priest to Zechariah, but God had planned from the beginning of time for the angel of the Lord to prophesy to him, the birth of his son, the forerunner of Christ.
This is a miraculous birth..Zechariah's wife Elizabeth is barren, and they are old (rather reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah). John the Baptist is special and will lead a unique life, but he is only preparing the way for Someone greater..Someone who cannot just be a man filled by God's spirit like Elijah or other prophets. But he must be God himself..a God who becomes flesh and dwells among man and is man too.
I love the exchange between Mary and the angel Gabriel. His response whenever she asks, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" is so powerful. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy-- the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." [Luke 1:34-37].
For nothing will be impossible with God..again and again we place God in a box. We try to hold him to our own human standards. How incredibly arrogant is that?
My pastor illustrated the importance of the virgin birth this past Sunday. It is essential that Jesus be fully God and and fully man. Just because we cannot wrap our heads around something does not mean that it isn't the truth.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem..where David was anointed king so many years before. Jesus was from the line of David. An heir that would be the King of all. It's so incredible. The birth of Jesus is perhaps the climax of history; it's the divide between B.C. and A.D. However, the birth would be nothing without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to be children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." [John 1:9-13]
So wow. I am amazed at the sovereignty and great love of God. He sent His Son to dwell among us. It wasn't a 33 year vacation as a mortal either, Jesus became man so that he could intercede to the Father on our behalf. He still is fully God and fully man.
And sure, it's not Christmas day anymore, but I think we have cause to celebrate everyday in our hearts, the amazing grace and mercy given to us..the awe-filling and undeserved love we receive.
And please don't say that Jesus is the reason for the season..He's the reason for our REDEMPTION.
