Weekend Scripture Gold with Bibi: God: The Baby In the Manger

Christmas is not about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.

But the modern world's version of Christmas does just that. And consequently for the greater part of humanity, Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all.

I don't suppose anyone can ever fathom what it means for God to be born in a manger. How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming man.

Nor can anyone explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant. He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.   -excerpt from "What is the Real Meaning of Christmas?" - John MacArthur

In the days leading up to Christmas our expectations are high and a sense of joy fills our hearts. We often are much like children in the fact we dream of Santa Claus and his glittering gifts of joy and peace. But what happens after Christmas? Well the tree dries up, the decorations are taken down and it is back to the same old, same old. It’s back to life as we know it.

Unfortunately the joy begins to fade as we gaze about our homes seeing tossed aside toys, the mounds of dirty clothes and a large stack of dirty dishes. To make matters worse we go to the mail box only to be reminded of the mound of unpaid bills that accompanied Christmas.

So, what is it all about?  We all know the Christmas story — the birth of Jesus. But is that it? Is the real meaning of Christmas reduced to a sweet story about a baby that we faintly hear through the noise of the lights, the packages and the ribbons? What is the true meaning of Christmas?  In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus answers our question. He quotes Isaiah 61 and defines his ministry. Surely this is what Christmas is all about.  Not just a birth story, but the celebration of one whose ministry sets people free!

The ministry of Isaiah 61, which Jesus applies to himself is a ministry of liberation, offering a joy-filled existence to its recipients. The joy of salvation is echoed again in 61:8-11. But what does this have to do with Christmas? Christmas is the celebration of the One whose life and ministry changes others. As followers of Jesus, we are the recipients of this grace as well as the body of Christ which bestows this grace on others. 

Today I would like for us to back away from all the hype, build up and inevitable let down that comes with the world’s celebration of Christmas and gain a firm grasp of the very real hope that is woven through those years following Christ’s days in the manger. When we keep Christ at the center of Christmas we will soon discover that the true hope of Christmas never fades.

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5; John 1:14; Psalms 51:5; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 7:14

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi