Hello, everyone! I can’t believe it’s that time of year again. Festive Christmas music plays, decorative lights twinkle brightly, and people are out eagerly buying gifts for their loved ones.
But I don’t mind. It’s my favorite time of year. I love the music, the decorations, getting gifts for my family, and eating the delicious goodies that we are treated with.
In addition to all that, I also like to reflect over the year. It’s coming to a close, and like every year, it had its up and downs. What did I accomplish? What do I want to accomplish next year?
I don’t know about you, but as each year comes to a close, I always strive to do better next year. I want to be proud of myself. I want to be able to look over my achievements and feel satisfied.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this holiday season, I wonder if He ever felt that way. He knew that His purpose for coming to earth was to die for our sins. But I often wonder if He ever looked back after each year, and felt dread for each next year that lay ahead. Dread because each year closer meant a horrible, painful death.
Did He ever wish that He wasn’t born? Did He ever have times where He thought to Himself, “I know my dying for So-and-So’s sins will be worth it, but I wish I didn’t have to go through with it?”
How did the conversation up in Heaven go? The Bible says that God existed in the beginning, and Jesus is God, so obviously Jesus knew that He had to come down to earth for us. I don’t know how they measure time in Heaven, but I’ve often wondered how Jesus felt, knowing that someday He would leave the beauty and glories of Heaven, and come down to a fallen, sinful world. Born as a helpless baby boy, learning how to walk, talk, feed Himself, be potty-trained, dress Himself, go to school, read, write, grow up, all to die for us. For our sins.
But it was worth it. Jesus rose from the dead three days later. Defeating death. Defeating the devil. The veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in half by God, meaning that now, everybody could speak with God, Jew and Gentile alike, not just the High Priest who entered into the Tabernacle. No more sacrificing of animals. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. All of the old laws were now gone. Jesus fulfilled the law.
I also think about Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible says that she found favor with God. How? What was it she did, that she earned His favor upon her? Why did the Lord choose her? How did she choose to tell people that she was with child, knowing that they wouldn’t believe her? I’m sure she prayed fervently and braced herself for cruel scorns, gossipy whispers, and possible shunning.
In Luke 1:48, it says that the Lord took notice of His lowly servant girl, and I wonder if that’s why Mary had favor with God. She was lowly, humble, and a servant. Exactly what Jesus was going to be. Jesus came to serve others. He was lowly and humble, always praising His Father in Heaven.
I wonder about Joseph. Why was he chosen to be the earthly father of Joseph? Was it his occupation? Was being a carpenter a lowly job?
Perhaps it was because of his character. When he heard that Mary was with child, the Bible says he did not want to make her a public example, but decided to quietly break off the engagement. I’m curious if Mary was shy. An introvert who hated the spotlight and attention. Was that why he decided to quietly break up with her?
He was going to break off their betrothal so as not to humiliate her. He probably knew that she had already been embarrassed enough. I’m guessing he heard the rumors floating around that she was pregnant. At any rate, he decided to show her grace. My pastor brought that out this past Sunday, that Joseph decided to show Mary grace.
And that’s what Jesus shows to sinners: grace, and mercy. I like to think that this was why God chose Mary and Joseph to be the parents of Jesus. One was a lowly, humble servant, and the other was full of grace and compassion.
I also speculate about the angels. Did God have all the angels from Heaven come to the shepherds, and announce Jesus’ birth? And what about Gabriel? Why was he specifically chosen to tell Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus?
At any rate, when I think and reflect over Jesus’ birth this holiday season, I think of His reason for coming. He came from the splendors of the heavenly places, down to a broken, hurting world, to die for you and me. He came down and had a humble, lowly birth. Born in a manger in a smelly stable. Grew up to become a lowly, humble servant. Washing other’s feet, healing the sick, and raising the dead. Showing grace, compassion, and mercy to sinners.
This Christmas season, let’s do the same. Serve and take care of one another. Show each other grace, compassion, and mercy. But instead of limiting it to the Christmas season, let’s do it all year. That’s the true Christmas spirit.
Merry Christmas to you and yours this blessed holiday season!