That God becomes man is actually completely absurd.
But it becomes even more absurd when we consider that in Jesus, God not only became man, but was even born as a baby. The almighty God who made heaven and earth came into the world as a completely helpless infant dependent on his parents.
For the seekers of truth from the East, gods have always been strong protectors of humanity. This radical reversal of roles must have been a shock to them. Suddenly, it is no longer God who provides for mankind, but mankind who provides for God, in the guise of a little baby. But they were not disappointed at all. The closeness with which God shows himself is so overwhelming for them that they immediately worship the little Jesus and give him a royal welcome.
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
With this intimate closeness, Jesus still meets us today through his Holy Spirit. The wise men from the East cannot react to this in any other way than with adoration, gratitude and gifts.
How do you react to the closeness with which Jesus wants to meet you?
It’s not difficult to make a decision when all the facts are known. Hence, it is not difficult for us to believe something if we can verify it. But unfortunately, that’s not always possible. The truth of some statements, signs or indications remains hidden from us. In such cases, we must take a leap of faith and believe one thing or the other.
This is also experienced by the truth seekers who see the sign of Jesus’ birth in the sky. They cannot immediately check whether they have understood those signs correctly. They take a leap of faith and decide to see the star as a sign of God. Also, during their long journey to Bethlehem, they can only hope that they have made the right decision.
When they saw the star[in Bethlehem], they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:10
In relation to God, we often have to take that leap of faith. Like the truth seekers, we cannot immediately verify whether we have correctly understood the signs of God and that it is indeed God who is showing Himself to us. But the greater will be the joy when one day our faith proves to be true.
If God exists, why doesn’t he show himself? I believe that this well-known question already contains the answer the way it is asked.
2030 years ago, a group of highly educated truth seekers of the old Orient recognized a strange star formation: Jupiter, the “king star”, and Saturn, the “star of the Jews”, met. In this phenomenon, which in the eyes of most rational scientists, these men recognize a clear sign from God: In Israel the Messiah, the king and God of the Jews, has been born.
In fact, they are so sure of this that they immediately set out on a long journey to meet this God and King – and it pays off.
Whether we recognize God often depends on whether we perceive his indications as such. The assumption that God would not show himself to us is already preceded by the belief that it would never happen – and this assumption can block our view of God.
Could it be that God showed himself to you the other day, but you only interpreted this as a random phenomenon?
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:15
After the shepherds heard the good news through the angel, they decided to go to Bethlehem. They wanted to see with their own eyes what the angels had announced to them.
And indeed, arriving in Bethlehem, the shepherds found Mary, her husband Joseph and found the newborn Jesus. Like any other baby, Jesus was completely and utterly dependent on his mother. Dependent on Mary to feed him and change his diapers. God truly became man.
Not only theoretically, but practically. Jesus is still alive today and can be experienced in real terms. He is truly man and God at the same time. So let us set out like the shepherds to Bethlehem. Let us look for Jesus, who humbled himself out of love, in order to give us true in the midst of our neediness and to bring peace to our hearts.
Despised by men, chosen by God. While the shepherds probably still could not understand what the words of the angel (see text yesterday) meant, the heavens opened and they witnessed a heavenly feast.
The heavenly host sang:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.“
Luke 2:14
Peace on earth for all people. That is what we all wish for, and yet it seems so unattainable. On that night when Jesus was born, heaven was opened. God came to earth and became man. God was not afraid to humble himself to give us access to him.
God is not in inaccessible spiritual spheres, but he meets us today, as he did then, in the midst of our humanity, need and neediness. He came to earth to meet us at eye level.
It is God’s heart’s desire to be connected with you and to bring peace into your life. Not only external peace, but holistic, deep peace, which you will find in the relationship with him. Peace on earth begins in our hearts, at eye level with God.
That night, as the people slept, a small group of shepherds kept watch outside in the open field open field, tending their flock of sheep. A shepherd in the society of that time did not have the same rights as the rest of the people. He was despised, considered a robber and a cheat.
Suddenly, in the middle of the first Christmas night, an angel appeared to the shepherds and said:
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.“
Luke 2:10-11
The Jews at that time were expecting the Messiah, a strong leader who would lead the Israelite people from the oppression of the Roman Empire. The fact that not the scholars and powerful were informed first about the good news of Jesus’ birth, but the poor shepherds in the field, is scandalous.
God chose the outcasts and the needy to be the first to hear the good news. The good news is for everyone, regardless of social status and personal status and personal guilt. There is no person in any age to whom the good news of Christmas would not apply.
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