In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made….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.
One of the great mysterious of Christmas is how big of deal it is, how grand and wonderful and full of miracles it is, while at the same time, in many ways, appearing quite ordinary.
I remember Kelly and I, especially Kelly, getting ready for Solomon’s birth for months and months.
Finally, the day came for us to go and meet our son.
As we walked into the hospital room, Solomon’s birth-mom was holding her son and through a smile filled with tears, she said,
“Well, Solomon, it’s time for you to meet your mommy.”
The day’s events were grand and wonderful and filled with miracles –
Joy was filling our hearts,
Tears of happiness were filling our eyes,
Christian songs filled our mouths throughout the day as our bundle of joy filled our arms.
What was happening?
What was he doing for us?
So much.
Yet, what was happening, what was he doing?
Not much.
Cooing and making squeaky noises every once in awhile.
Drinking some milk every once in awhile.
Sleeping a lot.
The day the Word made flesh appeared, the day the call from the angels was “time to see and meet your God”
what was happening, so much, or not much? One of the great mysteries of Christmas, of Christ, of the Christian Church, of the Christian life of that of course, the answer is “Yes.”
Which is true?
The Son of God is eternal, without beginning or end, always having been present and alive before the beginning of all things – all things were made through Him.
Or
The Son of God has a birthday, a day He was born, a measurement of time, a little over 2,000 years ago, that He became flesh.
Which is true?
The Son of God is all-powerful, omnipotent, almighty.
Or
On the day He was conceived and born, He was in one of the stages of life man is most helpless and dependent. Babies can’t do anything for themselves. They have to be fed, changed, clothed, burbed, and carried.
All powerful or completely dependent?
Yes.
Which is true?
The Son of God is all knowing, omniscient. He who knows everything has no need to be taught, but only to teach. He knows what happened at the beginning, what will happen to you tomorrow, and what will happen in the end.
Or.
Jesus had to learn to talk and walk and act from His mother and father. Jesus had to pray and hear the Lord’s Word with His family and go to Church to pray and learn the Word of God.
Knowing all things or having and always willing to learn?
Yes.
There’s of course more:
God who never slumbers and sleeps is found sleeping on a boat.
Christ through whom water was created and who gives living water asks for a drink at a well and cries out “I thirst” from His cross.
Christ through whom bread comes from and who feeds five thousand with a few loaves, is found hungry in the wilderness
And of course,
the eternal Lord of life – in Him was life and the life was the light of men –
nailed to a cross, dead and buried
The true light, which gives light to 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 own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believe in His name, He gave the right to become 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.
Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace.
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The heralds sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
One of the great mysteries of the Christian life is to ask,
What happens in Church?
What happens when I pray?
What happens when I hear God’s Word?
What happens when I sing His hymns?
What happens when I receive the body and blood of Christ?
What happens when I do good works – provide, show mercy, forgive, pray for someone, teach someone, be kind to someone, give and expect nothing in return.
It may seem like nothing.
Behind these things are big deals for you and others.
Come, meet your God until you meet Him face to face.