Originally posted December 15, 2010, at Kaleidoscope Faith. Republished with permission of the author.
“God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.” — Max Lucado, Just a Moment.
I can still remember the most magical Christmas I ever had.
I was around 5 years old. We were driving home from visiting old family friends. I couldn’t wait to get home and go to bed.
Do you remember trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve?
Tough, huh?
On the way home I remember seeing a bright red light in the sky (now I know it was an airplane tower). Driving in the car gave it the illusion that it was moving. It was Rudolph! Santa was on his way, and I had to be in bed.
I was afraid my parents had kept me out too long, and we had missed Santa. I raced to my room and put on my Steelers footie pajamas. I fell asleep as fast as I could.
I don’t remember what I got for Christmas that year (sorry, mom and dad) but I do remember the thrill of being surprised by Rudolph’s bright red nose.
Christmas is about being surprised. We’re surprised that we got the tree up on time. We’re surprised by what we got for Christmas. We’re surprised that uncle so-and-so showed up for the party. We’re surprised that we were able to cook that much and feed that many people.
Are we surprised that God came into the world in the form of a baby?
God was born through a teenage girl, placed in a feeding trough and held by human hands.
“The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl,” writes Lucado in Just a Moment.
Does it still surprise you?
I am still mystified by God’s love and willingness to break into our world and save us. God came into our midst in human form, to laugh with us, to cry with us, to eat with us and to die for us. Keep Christ in Christmas; after all he’s still the biggest surprise the world’s ever seen.
Find a link to Joseph Murdy’s blog Kaleidoscope Faith at Lutheran Blogs.
Post a comment