Behold the Child!

Mary & Joseph

We are in the first week of the “Advent” season leading up to Christmas 2019. Many Christians know that Advent is a traditional time of preparation and anticipation beginning the 4th Sunday before Christmas. The word Advent is derived from a Latin word meaning “coming, ” and this season serves as a great way for us to focus on the coming of Jesus into the world and celebrating Him throughout the Christmas season!

As I think about Christmas this year, I have been considering what it must have been like to be among the first people to experience this “coming” when Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph had an especially unique encounter as the earthly parents of this “Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32 NIV).

Mary was the very first person to be present at the coming of the Lord into the earth as her womb became the place where the Son of God; who was before all thing and through whom all things were created (Col 1:15-20); took on human form! What must it have been like for her to know that child she nurtured within her was the very image of the invisible God she had her people worshiped and trusted in for generations?

Joseph acted on faith in the angel’s message to him that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was coming to save people from their sins (Matt 1:20-23). He came alongside Mary and the child; loving and protecting them. When the child came, he and Mary were the first to see; to touch; to embrace God in human flesh!

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, let’s remember who this child is. This child lying in a manger; completely dependent upon fallible, sinful human beings; is the very image of the invisible God; firstborn over all creation. “In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:15-17).

Jesus didn’t lose that identity when he was born. He humbled himself; setting aside His divine and supernatural nature to become like one of us. He did this to empathize with us; with our weaknesses and struggles with sin. He did this to demonstrate the greatness of his mercy and grace for all of us who fall short of God’s ideal life for us (Heb 4:14-16). He did this because he loves us.

May you behold this child in a new way this Advent season that draws you to Him in an encounter with God of your own.