John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…..
When Almighty God takes on human flesh…
When He is born miraculously of the virgin Mary….
When Herod tries to have Him killed as a newborn….
I don’t know…. when the Creator of the universe moves heaven and earth and takes on human flesh, maybe that is supposed to get our attention? And, I don’t mean a little bit – I mean grab our wholehearted, lifelong, enduring, and collective attention.
Perhaps when God moves heaven and earth, is born of a virgin, and takes on human flesh that maybe His intent was bigger than a lawn decoration during the Christmas season?
Jesus, born in the manger is to be more than: “Awww look at the cute baby in the manger.” More than a decoration we might put in the front yard next to Santa, snoopy and the Grinch.
How is Christmas more than just a nice holiday and a few extra days off of work? Is Christmas more than a tree, presents, carols and shopping?
Think about WHO is in that manger!
GOD with us. If we do not know who it is that is in that manger, Christmas will be nothing more than just another holiday….and the manger will be just another decoration.
BUT:
God, Himself is in that manger!
The creator of the universe came!
The King of ALL kings has come!!!!!
Think about this:
200 years ago it was believed that there were some 6,000 stars in the universe. 200 years ago – 6,000 stars seemed like a lot of stars. Today astronomers believe there are more stars in the universe (that we know of) than there are grains of sand on all the beaches and deserts on the earth!
Uh…. wow!
The latest evidence shows us that there are between 100 and 200 BILLION galaxies in the universe each of them containing 100’s of billions of stars.
Amazing!?!
And the Bible just matter of factly states: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….
But hold on a minute. Consider that this God who created all those stars (and everything else in the universe) has now come down and taken on human flesh. God – in human flesh!!
As a culture we are easily impressed with actors, actresses, and athletes.
This past year George Clooney found himself in my small home town Titusville, Fl. He was there to shoot scenes for the movie “Tomorrowland”. As you might imagine, social media blew up in my hometown. Clooney sightings were being reported. Photos uploaded, rumors of sightings passed along, and on and on it goes.
“Did you hear Clooney is shooting scenes downtown?”
I just did a quick google search with the words: “george clooney filming in titusville fl”
My google search spit back at me 34,700 results! Wow!
My point? When George Clooney comes to small town Titusville it blows up. Why? Well, it’s George Clooney! Duh!
What does it mean that the God of the universe, your Maker and mine, takes on human flesh, and is born as a baby in a manger, in the tiny town of Bethlehem?
For the most part, culture is indifferent to the manger. Some are blasphemous and many can be heard yawning. Can you hear the cultural yawn?
A long time ago – by the mercy of God – I traded the yawn in for worship!
Over these next few posts I hope you might read along and join with me to see the glory of that manger scene. Let’s trade the yawn in for worship!
Consider today:
It is GOD with us!
GOD came and took on human flesh
That cute baby in the manger….. it is GOD!
Praise Him!
What an amazing perspective!
Thank you, God!
Let the incredible grace of a mind shaking, present conscious impacting of the truth of this inspired presentation of the glory of God in Christ, coming in such a modest way for such a eternal history effecting purpose of life giving joy.
Thank you for making God bigger in my eyes yet again! What a Savior!!