
This time of year, I always find myself staring into the beautiful porcelain nativity placed in the greenhouse window above my kitchen sink. It’s there for two reasons. One is, no little fidget can accidentally bump into it, and break the head off Mary! Reason two…because as I stand at the sink, so often during the Christmas season, I can literally stare into the face of Jesus! It kind of helps to keep me balanced and focused on what it really is that I celebrate this time of year!
Looking into the face of baby Jesus I somehow absorb peace of mind and serenity for just a few moments as I “Be still and know that He is God”. I personally, desperately, need that reminder and reprieve as it is all too easy to get caught up in our “Christmas” traditions and routines! Decking the halls, baking cookies, planning Christmas dinner parties, tree lightings, festivities with friends and family, shopping, wrapping, gift giving trying to create the perfect hallmark Christmas! (and just for the record, lest you think that I am some kind of a Christmas magician, that just doesn’t happen lol) Scuttling about in so many directions I can stop at any given moment and stare at that tiny little baby and a sense of peace, and calmness comes over me!
Silly as it seems, while beautiful, it’s just a ceramic representation of the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. His arms are lifted towards Mary as she stares lovingly down at him with wonder emanating from her eyes!
Even though he’s just a ceramic replication, and probably a very poor one at that, of the real life baby Jesus in the manger of old. I am always filled with awe as I stand in silence staring. I try to let it take me back in time, and I imagine what it was really like with the cattle lowing (maybe) and the angels singing, and the shepherds seeking, and the Wisemen giving!
While all the circumstances surrounding Jesus birth, that we sing about, read poems and write songs about, and believe, may not be true. I still have a deep sense of wholeness as my heart overflows with sadness and gratitude for what this little baby grew up to do for broken humanity!
Sadness because what He would suffer for us is clearly written. He could’ve called down 12 legions of angels to fight for himself! But no, as hard as it was, He chose to fulfill the written scriptures that predicted His birth!
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3
He chose to fulfill scriptures that predicted His death as well! Proof that He is who He said, He is the Son of God that came to earth on a mission to redeem His lost children!
When Judas along with the high priests’ cronies, was sent to arrest Jesus, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. At this one of Jesus’s companions, drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priests’ servant. As Jesus touched the ear and healed it, (Luke 22:51) he told him to put his sword away, and then he said this….
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. Matthew 26:53-56
The angel Gabriel, when he came to Mary made these claims about her Divine baby
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David…The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:32, 35
God Himself called Jesus his Son.
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5
That sense of peace, awe, and calmness humbles me as it is mixed with feelings of sadness. Yes, I am aware as I look into that precious little baby face of the reality of who that little baby really was, and what He would one day face! The very Son of the living God. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The great I am. The alpha and the omega. The creator of the universe and the creator of you and me! The one who hung the stars, the moon, and the sun in place, and caused them all to function, so we have night and day! The creator of every living thing! The Light of the world! Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Prince of peace! Most importantly, the One who was born and died for the forgiveness of my sins, that I could one day be with Him in heavenly paradise!
I encourage you take time to “be still, and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10) I encourage you to take time, and stare into the face of Jesus, this Christmas season!
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:5-6