12-18-13 God the Father at the First Christmas

¹⁴ 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.
¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16) 

Thoughts: The Father was the instigator of Christmas.  It was His plan, His purpose.  He used Caesar's decree to fulfill His prophecy about the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem.  He was looking for a way to save His people from their sins- so He sent Jesus.  The great key verse of the Bible, John 3:16, reminds us that it was the Father's love that gave Jesus.  The beginning of the giving was His great and amazing love for us despite our sin.  He desired that we should know who He is (John 1:18) and sent His Son- the exact image of Himself.  But more than that, He desired that we find a way back to Him.  Our sins separate us from His holiness.  That is what sin does- separates and destroys.  But the ultimate prescription is sending Christ to heal and mend this brokenness in us and with the Father.
     His second step in giving is allowing His one and only Son to become human- and a vulnerable baby born to a poor family.  Do not underestimate the love of the true Father this Christmas.  In many ways we celebrate His love when we celebrate Jesus.
     His third step is the cross.  Sacrifices in the Old Testament were a symbol of the ability of us to have forgiveness.  John said that Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the world."  Jesus said the reason for Christmas was that he might serve us by ransoming us by the cross (Mark 10:45).  In some sense, Jesus was the great sacrificial Lamb born to die that we may live.  That is the truly awe-striking humility in Christmas.  We feel sorry for animals born and bred to die- it seems so humiliating.  But Jesus was was born for us to die for us.
     The fourth step is the resurrection.  The Father did not let the cross have the last word.  But He showed His acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice and His power over Jesus' death (and our own deaths) by raising Christ out of love for Him.
      The fifth step is the sending of His Spirit.  Jesus compared the sending of the Spirit to His own coming (John 14, 16).  The Spirit convicts, guides, comforts, strengthens, gives gifts, opens our eyes and hearts.  Basically the Spirit is the Father's way of making Himself real and known to us today.
      The sixth step of the Father's love is coming to us.  He awakens us and draws us to Himself (John 6:44).  We respond to Christ's knocking on our hearts by His grace.  Our responsibility is to respond, and Christ's grace is that we are put in a position to respond- enabled to respond to His calling out to us.  |
      The seventh step is the Christmas reverse- our going to God.  God comes to us at Christmas, we come to God when He calls us home to Himself in heaven.  This is all in the Father's love.  The first Christmas is an important step in our coming home.  Christmas in the West is a mysterious call on our hearts for togetherness- to be loved- to come home.  But it is a small hint that we are truly called to our ultimate home by God.  God's love is the greatest wonder of Christmas. 

Prayer: Father, thank you for your care, so evident at Christmas.  Help me to live a grateful life today.

(Mural in Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem)