At first glance nativity scenes elicit the perception of peaceful simplicity with shepherds, sheep, Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger. A bright star shining in the sky on a beautiful silent night. However the profound complexity of the layers of interconnected details that dovetail together in the nativity scene is truly mind blowing. And the ripple effects of that event forever changed the world.
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty. Who can understand His ways or interpret His thoughts? The mystique of our Creator is so profound and the chasm between mankind and the one true living God so incomprehensible that the ancient Hebrews would not even pronounce His name for fear and reverence.
So the Almighty came to us and stooped to our level. He entered into His creation so that we could draw near to Him and appreciate Him. So that we could see His face, hear His teachings and follow His example. He dwelt among us and kissed us with the kiss that brings life.
And what is so amazing about our God is the manner in which he came into our world. Not as a prince, clothed in fine linen, or a warrior, descending from heaven on silver clouds surrounded by rainbows and flashes of lightning… but as a baby.
THE WORD BECAME FLESH
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Contemplate the quiet confidence of God to enter human civilization in the most vulnerable stature imaginable. A baby, born into poverty and concealed from the forces of evil that surely wanted to undermine God’s redemptive plan, if they could have discovered it.
Our Savior was not born in a palace or to a culturally prestigious family, but in the midst of livestock, in a manger, with the lowest of parents. An unwed teenage mother and her bewildered bridegroom relegated to spend the night with the animals who did not resent their presence. No running water, nor even the most basic of comforts that we take for granted. The last place one would look for the King of the Jews.
The physical challenges alone presented childbirth involving a teenage virgin with a daunting task. The circumstances surrounding the delivery of a baby in a stable so far removed from an ideal situation and seemingly confronted with numerous potential complications. It is the vulnerability of such a birth that God deemed an acceptable risk with quiet confidence; that these two young adults would successfully navigate the first perils of the Messiah’s life.
In Matthew 1:22-23 we are told, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means God with us).” And Paul discloses in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
The love of the Father emanated from that tiny abode through the night in radiance that was witnessed by shepherds in the fields. With the birth of Jesus came the birth of salvation for every nation on earth as God had promised Abraham eighteen hundred years earlier. It was a birth that would lead to the birth of the church that has worshipped Jesus for two thousand years now. And it resonates in the second birth of every born again believer in the world.
The adversary must have been scrambling trying to piece together what was happening. The Magi had it figured out but didn’t arrive until well after the birth of Jesus. And when the devil prompted Herod to inquire about the baby, the wise men were warned not to report back with the location of the child. Even with many prophecies about the birth of the Messiah, that the enemy was surely aware of, God’s plan could not be denied.
For example, Isaiah 7:14 predicted that He would be born of a virgin, 700 years before the event. And the magi connected the dots to the birthplace of the Messiah by studying the stars and asked in Jerusalem where the King of the Jews would be born. They were informed it would be Bethlehem because it was foretold in Micah 5:2 – 700 years earlier as well.
God prepared safe passage to Egypt for Jesus to avoid the tyranny of Herod by warning His parents to flee and escape Herod’s anger when he realized he was duped by the Magi. Similarly, Joseph was rescued from the anger of his brothers by being taken to Egypt two thousand years prior. And just as Israel was called out of Egypt by Moses, Jesus was also called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), as recorded in Matthew 2:14-15, to return to Israel after Herod’s death. Furthermore, Jesus grew up in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that He would be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
NOT COINCIDENTAL
The historical and cultural details of the Messiah’s birth are not coincidental or insignificant. God’s purposes for the circumstances surrounding the nativity reflect intent and a deeply profound desire to reach the lowest of society. Meekness was His vehicle and humility punctuated His plan.
But God’s design is much deeper than what is apparent on the surface. In order to execute the perfect redemptive plan for humanity, Jesus had to fly below the radar most of the time, so that He could surface at precisely the right moment to fulfill His mission. Had Satan been able to circumvent Christ’s destiny, he most certainly would have. He knew who Jesus was, he tempted Him in the desert, but Christ proved to be an immovable rock. The devil knew who He was but could not figure out His purpose. Even demons recognized Jesus (Matthew 8:28-34) but couldn’t determine His strategy. That is why Jesus was so convoluted regarding His true mission.
God’s strategic plan was perfect and the culture at the time not only possessed the organizational structure (Pax Romana), to enable the crucifixion of Christ, it also facilitated the dissemination of the gospel in a manner that never existed previously. God carried out His redemptive plan in full view of the civilized world, all the while remaining covert to the spiritual darkness bent on stopping it.
Paul touched on this concept in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8: “We do, however, speak of a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
THE UNBLEMISHED LAMB OF GOD
The virginity of Mary is paramount to establishing Jesus as the unblemished Lamb of God (John 1:29). Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she would be with child while she was betrothed to Joseph, which presented some very real challenges to their betrothal. The betrothal period, or “kiddushin,” was legally binding through the marriage contract which stipulated the dowry price for the bride.
Since the price had already been paid, the bride was legally considered bought and paid for in Jewish culture. If the bridegroom died, the bride became widowed and if the couple did not desire to follow through with the wedding, they required a divorce to nullify the agreement.
If the marriage contract was broken due to infidelity, the sin was considered adultery and the guilty party could be stoned under Jewish law. So when Joseph found out about Mary’s pregnancy, he planned to divorce her quietly to spare her disgrace and potentially her life. However, the angel informed him that the baby was from the Holy Spirit and settled the matter in his mind (Matthew 1:18-23).
The supernatural conception of Jesus is significant because no physical interaction took place, therefore, Jesus did not inherit the sin of Adam that has been passed down through the generations. And Joseph did not consummate his marriage to Mary until after Jesus was born (Matthew 1:24-25). What is important about this is that Joseph proceeded to take Mary home as his wife, thereby completing the betrothal period by fulfilling the “huppah.”
If Christ had not been supernaturally conceived, the gospel accounts would be untruthful and scripture would not be trustworthy. And if Jesus had been conceived by natural means, He would have inherited the original sin, making Him unacceptable to God as an unblemished sacrifice.
Not only did Jesus live without sin (1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 4:15, and 2 Corinthians 5:21), He was born without sin and was conceived without sin, making Him the one and only unblemished Lamb of God. He was sacrificed on Passover for the sins of the world.
JESUS ALONE IS WORTHY
Jesus alone is worthy. He alone is Holy because He is God Himself. Revelation 4:8 depicts the throne room of God, with praises day and night: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” In Revelation 5:6-14 we are shown a profound scene, where the Lamb that was slain is proclaimed worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. He is worthy because he is sinless and endured the cross to atone for the sins of many.
Salvation comes from the Lord (Jonah 2:9). And His methodologies are as mysterious as His intellect. Isaiah 55:8-9 reveals, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”
Psalm 23:5 describes a quietly confident king who trusts in the Lord. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” The first noel illustrated a quietly confident God demonstrating His authority through profound meekness and incomprehensible humility. He made Himself vulnerable by laying in a manger as an infant and invited sinners to experience how such a radical act of love could change the world.
This Christmas as we marvel at the birth of Christ, let us contemplate not only the apparent simplicity of the nativity but also its complexity. Consider the perfection of a redemptive plan that was hidden in plain sight and executed to perfection in the presence of an enemy who could do nothing to stop it. Dig deep below the surface of what is visible at first glance regarding the birth of Christ and discover the implicit purpose of Christmas. May the Holy Spirit reveal the layers of a salvation that opens the gates of heaven to those who believe.
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