12-20-21<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We know that the ways of God are mysterious. He works in mysterious ways, we tell each other, but His story, history, also overflows with blessings that surprise people, challenges that somehow bless people, and surprises that challenge humankind \u2013 always, mysteriously, drawing us closer to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That He would \u201cempty\u201d Himself and \u201cbecome flesh\u201d and dwell amongst us is the greatest of mysteries. It was foreordained \u2013 prophesied in diverse ways by numerous people through the ages until the Incarnation itself. In Isaiah Chapter 53 Jesus was predicted and described; His place and manner of birth was foretold; His ministry was reported beforehand, as was His eventual suffering and death; the meaning of His life on earth was told, and His resurrection explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet Immanuel, God-Becomes-Man, is a mystery to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humankind could have confronted its sinful rebellion by obeying laws, but didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God might have sent a Ruler in a burst of terror to confront the wicked, but didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humankind might have understood a Holy warrior, a righteous reformer, a rebel with a cause. But God chose to come as a… baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mysteries. It is useless to confront God for reasons and answers. And more useless to want<\/em> to question His love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us step back for a moment. Christmas cards and carols and gift wrap and pretty ornaments make us forget some of the truths of Christmas. Shepherds: why shepherds as the first to behold the Savior? A manger: rough straw with livestock spittle? Mysterious scenarios, yet God\u2019s choice of arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did the world welcome the Savior? \u2013 Of course not. Humankind\u2019s inclination to sin was the reason God acted through the Incarnation. Our hearts are dark; such is humankind\u2019s reaction to free will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Was the “first Christmas” a time of rejoicing? \u2013 Hardly. The innkeepers turned Mary and Joseph away (I am tempted to think it really was because she was a pregnant virgin\u2026). The Roman authorities, knowing Scriptural prophecy too, ordered babies younger than two to be slaughtered in the land. Mary and Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape a deadly and hostile situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the birth of Jesus: was Mary full of joy? \u2013 Not completely, of course. As a mother she was blessed, yet she knew the sorrows, rejections, suffering, and death that lay ahead for her Baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mysteries. These things had to be. Let us remember such truths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, we want to celebrate a Holy Birthday Party. Yet the seeds of a funeral were sown at His birth \u2013 in fact from the earliest events in the Garden. Jesus did not come to us to teach and do good deeds, tra la, before things went wrong for Him, despite His loving ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus came to earth to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His ministry was to teach; His blessings included healing; He acted to fulfill prophecies; yes. But He came<\/em> to die. As \u201cfully man and fully God,\u201d He would struggle with betrayals and pain and death \u2013 mysteries again, how God \u201cemptied Himself\u201d \u2013 yet He knew that is why He was born in human form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kids and trees and presents and smiles aside (and I am not saying to be forsaken), we should remember the Easter message, too, at Christmastime. I believe the baby Jesus did. When He first opened His eyes, I believe He looked into the face of His loving mother, and shepherds, and angels, and, yes, some lowly animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I believe He also looked up from His mother\u2019s arms and somehow \u2013 mysteriously \u2013 saw the cross too. And the (empty) tomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us rejoice for all these sweet mysteries of our loving God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n