What does this day mean for you? Do you recognize the significance? Or do you get caught up in all the attendant activities associated with the day? Are your memories warm and fulsome? Or sad and empty? Is the day focused on the reason for the day – Jesus? Or that jolly Santa? Both?
There’s a small book written by Dr. David Jeremiah, “Why the Nativity” that I would highly recommend. It asks those questions that pierce through the sometimes unthinking and superficial and force us to consider the deeper understandings and insights that this event, Jesus’ birth, represent. Why, is the question. Why to all the who, what, when, where, how questions.
For just a moment, place yourself in Jesus’ understandings. Granted, it’s impossible but can you from this vantage point consider all that Jesus did know and understand from His entry into this world.
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,” [Philippians 2:4-9]
Can we, even a small part of us, understand what Jesus did and why? And there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation on Jesus’ part. He came in the form of a man because it was only a spotless man that could redeem us. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45-58, especially verse 45:
“So it is written [in Scripture], “The first man, Adam, became a living soul (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].”
I believe that the Nativity marks the beginning of our salvation. Yes, that is obvious but do we ponder on this incredible gift by Father and Son FOR us at Christmas? Restoration, Reconciliation began at Christmas.
Now look at how Paul approached this issue – Philippians 3:7-11. Can you say the same think about yourself. Do you count it as of no consequence what was as compared to what is now that you have made Jesus your Lord? Have you laid aside those longings, hopes, desires that were your motivators?
“But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].” [v. 7]
Both the Father and the Son knew the lengths they would travel, alone, in order to bring back the opportunity for man to become who he was always intended to be. So how will you respond? What will you consider about this gift – will you accept it?
