“In the beginning the Word already existed.” (John 1:1a NLT)
Today, and for the next four days, I want to build on yesterday’s post by Chuck Colson, by continuing to explore the birth of Jesus. We’ll look at how the Gospels approach His birth and what His birth means to us, as inhabitants of planet earth. This is my 74th Christmas, yet I approach it with more awe and wonder than perhaps any other Christmas of my life. But why? Walk with me through the miraculous wonder of our Savior’s birth. Who is this tiny infant whose name is Jesus?
John, one of Jesus’ twelve original disciples, describes Him this way: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:1-5 NLT)
Does this mean that the baby born in the manger in Bethlehem is God in human form? How can that be? That’s impossible! Yes, humanly speaking, it is. But nothing is impossible with God. The Bible is God’s absolute truth, delivered to us to give, not only an understanding of who He is, but who we are and what He desires to do and be in our lives today.
Just like their “Author,” the words of the Bible aren’t “ordinary,” as they record the words of God as He “spoke” them to forty authors over the span of about 1500 years. Yet they find fulfillment and explanation in the headlines of our daily news. Why is this important for us to understand? Because the baby born of a virgin in a dirty, smelly manger isn’t any “ordinary” baby. He is God’s one and only Son. How do I know that?
The miraculous birth of Jesus doesn’t make sense unless and until we understand that God did exactly what He said He would do hundreds of years before it came to fruition. The odds of the dozens of Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in one person in history are literally astronomical. Yet, every detail of Jesus’ birth is exactly what the prophets explained would happen hundreds of years in advance.
“But for a person to be born of a virgin is impossible!” Yes, it is. That’s why God chose that way to introduce us to Himself in the flesh. Even as I write these words, it’s difficult for me to conceive of why God would come to earth and experience the same joys and sorrows that we suffer in our lives. To me there’s only one explanation. Love!
For the most part, the world’s religions all seek to define a way for man to reach God, typically by seeking to be good enough through the works they perform. God knew the futility of that plan, that’s why He poured Himself into human flesh, was born in very humble surroundings, lived with us, not as a man of wealth, military might, or governmental clout, but as a Servant-King. He came not to be served, but to serve, heal, and ultimately lay down His life in our place, so that we might stop our futile efforts to reach Him and simply open our hearts to Him, who came to us!
Blessings, Ed 😊
*For a much more in-depth explanation of what the verses in John 1 mean, I invite and encourage you to listen to Pastor Vance Pitman’s message from 12-12-21. Just click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtaQ8Ht7D8A (This is the entire service, but you can move ahead to just the message if you like.)
Walking With Jesus 