Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

I know that sometimes people think that I see things differently than others do. I'm not sure why, I just keep looking from different perspectives to try to find out what is really happening.

Take the Christmas story for example: it seems that the focus of Christmas is always about the birth of the Christ (or Messiah, Anointed One, Savior,...Jesus). We seem to want to look at the human part of the God/man...and why not? After all, we're human. We look at the gift of Christmas and later we'll look at the great sacrifice that the man Jesus makes at Calvary. I tend to think that the greater sacrifice was made that night when God left heaven and took on the flesh of man.

In Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he says that we should all have the attitude of Jesus, who didn't consider his godly nature as something to be held on to. But rather, he set aside those things to take on the role of a servant and humbled himself and became obedient to death...even death on the cross.

We think of God as a being that is omnipresent (not confined by space/time; all places at once), omnipotent (all powerful), and omniscient (all knowing). Jesus, though he remained fully God, set these things aside to become fully human. The all present being humbled himself to be confined in the body of a human...and not just any human, a baby. In a moment, He went from the all powerful God that spoke the world into existence, to an infant child that was completely helpless. From omnipotent God to a baby that has to cry if he's hungry and needs to be fed; or is cold and wants to be held; or if he's soiled himself and needs to be changed. It's a bit hard to grasp the idea of God needing his diaper changed...but he did.

The Bible also tells us that he grew in wisdom and in stature before God and men--he learned. Something tells me that he had a better memory than I do and that he was more attentive to his studies. This God/boy knew that there was a purpose to his being here on Earth.

Somehow I can't help but think that the sacrifice that Jesus made to come to Earth (Christmas) was far greater than the sacrifice Jesus made when He was crucified. In either case, the love that this God demonstrates is far beyond what I can imagine. God became man and then died a brutal death so that I could have eternal life. So that you can have eternal life.

Merry Christmas,

John

8 comments:

fiona said...

Very thought provoking, thank you John for your words, wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas. x

HEALTH NUT WANNABEE MOM said...

Have a wonderful Christmas!!!!!! Wishing you the best! I love reading your posts. I always feel better about God, Jesus, myself and my spirituality so thank you!

Bilbo said...

I think what we need today as much as anything else is people in positions of power and authority who are able to grow in wisdom and stature instead of just growing in ego and wealth. Merry Christmas to you and your entire family, and our very best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy new year!

Kevin Gilmore said...

Merry Christmas all.

Sicilian said...

John. . . . I have always felt that the hardest part of Jesus coming to earth was the separation from God.
Jesus left the presence of God to come live as we live. What a sacrifice.
Thank you for the post. It helps us to focus.
Merry Christmas!

Mike said...

Merry Christmas back at you. Let me check the clock. Yep, it's still Christmas.

Anonymous said...

This is a keeper of a post for sure! I appreciate so much how naturally you express yourself and especially how well you express what is on your heart about God in Christ! Thank you!!!

ssgreylord said...

what a beautiful message to read on christmas (or the day after, for that matter).

you have an earnest, heart-felt way of sharing that lends credibility to what you have to say. it also draws in the reader in what feels like an intimate conversation of two.

thank you for talking so openly about this sacrifice God/Christ made.

take care, my friend. and a merry christmas to you as well...