The Miracle, The Mystery, The Majesty
The most wondrous Christmas package, Christmas gift, is not found under a tree, but lying in a manger, a feeding trough, God The Son wrapped in flesh!
God loves surprises!
God the Son, the Creator of the Universe, left His royal position in the very Throne Room of Heaven, to become 100% human while remaining 100% Divine. The “religious elite” of the day had indeed expected a King, a Messiah to arrive at the “elite”city of Jerusalem, to come wearing royal robes and to make Himself known to the important leaders, the chief priests, the scribes, the high priest and elders. The ones who knew the prophecies but definitely missed the tiny baby arriving in the most humble circumstances in the less than majestic town of Bethlehem.
They would have found it appalling that those “unclean” shepherds were the first to receive the glorious good news from an angel standing in their midst surrounded by the glory of God, saying “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
They would have been shocked to discover that those shepherds left those most perfect lambs, raised in the area outside Bethlehem to be sacrificed to God in the holy temple, to go find the baby who was actually the Christ child, the Great Shepherd, the sacrificial Lamb of God, God the Son lying in a manger!
Those religious leaders would find it revolting that the only ones at the birth site that night would be those uneducated and unclean shepherds bowing before the Great Shepherd and that they would be the first evangelists sharing the good news and glorifying and praising God!! How outrageous!
They would have been distressed and offended to know that some many miles away in a sophisticated empire a supernatural sign had been given to Magi, ( the priests, sages, scientists, astronomers ) who had been searching for a sign regarding the prophecy of a coming King!
How disturbing it would have been for those religious leaders had they known that an entourage would begin preparations for a very long trip requiring an abundance of supplies, and very likely, servants, horses and camels, and gifts fit for a King! And that approximately two years later (Matthew 1:7, 16) they would arrive in Jerusalem throwing that “religious” world into serious confusion by inquiring about the “King of the Jews”, and reporting they had seen “His Star”. And even more astonishing, they said they had come to WORSHIP Him!!
Herod the Great was more than perplexed, after all, he claimed to be King and murdered any who threatened his throne (including his favorite wife and her two sons). He immediately demanded information from the Jewish chief priests and scribes. Where was the Christ to be born? Of coarse they reported Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem but they didn’t know the irony of The “Bread of Life” being born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread”!
They were ignorant of the fact that Herod hastily arranged a secret meeting with the Magi to ascertain the time the star appeared, then sent them to Bethlehem to search for the Child, claiming he wished to come worship Him. The greatest of lies from a murderous liar plotting the demise of all the Bethlehem babies two years of age and younger.
The Magi once again saw His Star and rejoiced exceedingly. They came to the house, fell down and worshipped the young King and presented their treasures. As ambassadors of a their homeland their gifts would probably be abundant and extravagant!
A goodly portion of gold representing deity, (which Christ is). Frankincense which the Jews used as a sacred incense for a sin offering (which Christ became). And Myrrh used as a holy anointing oil, a perfume used for sacrificial death and burial. (which Christ would endure) These first Gentile worshippers were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod. They obeyed and departed to their home a different way.
After seeing the Miracle, the Mystery, the Majesty of Christ, we all go a different way!
Have a beautiful Christ-filled Christmas!
Read the wondrous story in Matthew and Luke Chapters 1 and 2.
Thank you for sharing! You have a beautiful gift!! Blessed by your passion to teach & explain God’s Living Word. All 3 blogs spoke to me, shed a new light. I’m looking forward to reading more.