10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
John Shea wrote of his daughter’s telling the story, “Sharon’s Christmas Prayer”. She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity, convinced every word was revelation. She said “They were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat, and they went a long way from home without getting lost. The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady. They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass (hee-hee) but the three rich men found them because a star lite on the roof . Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them. Then the baby was born. And do you know who he was?” ( Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars.) “The baby was God.”
And she jumped in the air whirled round, dove into the sofa and buried her head under the cushion laughing, which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation.
How can you wrap up such an awesome Christmas present? What inscription can you possibly put on the package? Who could comprehend it? God’s son come to earth wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And Mary was just as bewildered, wondering how such a thing could take place. And the tag of the package was not written or scribbled with pen, but comes with a choir that praises God and says, ‘Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord, Glory to God in the Highest and earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
On whom His favor rests? It rested on that little girl named Sharon. It rested on a teenager named Mary. It rested on you and rested on the shepherds; it rested on me and rested on Joseph. The response is excited, praising angels and the wide eyed little girl when they really understand - this baby was God!
How could it be when everything was so ordinary? I don’t mean ordinary. I mean confusing. I can't think of one thing, from a worldly point of view that would make sense to me if this baby was God.
The election of our president-elect got far better coverage that the greatest event in the world when Jesus came. Why didn’t God decide that it was to be this century to come and more aptly be introduced with internet and satellite TV and digital cell phones and air travel. He could have done that back then.
The more I think of God’s unusual plan to come to the earth the harder it is to understand.
Application: What do you marvel at concerning the Biblical narrative of the coming of God in the flesh into our world?
Prayer: Lord, there are so many things I marvel at in the Biblical narrative of Your birth. Thank you for setting aside Your Glory to save us. Mold me to be obedient as Mary and Joseph even though others may look down on me.
