It’s that most wonderful time of year again. At least for some people. For others, the holidays can be a reminder of loss, family disputes, or simply loneliness. The Christmas season seems to have been hijacked in many ways. The holly jolly merriment is often overshadowed by consumerism and worries about the political climate or the everyday struggles of life. I believe this is why it’s important to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Regardless of what you believe about the time, date, or origin of what we experience as the celebration of Christ’s birth, as Christians it’s always healthy and inspiring to look back over the story of the incarnation woven throughout scripture. Incarnate means embodied in flesh, or simply put, “in meat”. 

Jesus is referred to as Immanuel, meaning God with us. Our God, who chose to leave His heavenly abode and humble himself to be born into the very world He created. In comparison to His heavenly glory, Jesus’ life on earth was full of anomalies and paradoxes. He shows us what it truly means to fully live the human experience, with all of its joys, pain, wonder, heartbreak, delight, sadness and frustration, and yet to prove that He is fully God by producing heavenly life wherever He went. 

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,“ (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬)

Jesus’ birth has been celebrated by countless generations and peoples, heralded by a heavenly host of angels, feared by kings, and foretold by prophets. 

He is easily the most celebrated and revered person to have ever lived on this earth, yet He was born in a stable to parents on the lowest rung of the social ladder of a seemingly insignificant people group.

His parents, Mary and Joseph, were some of the poorest of the poor, yet they were lavished with many costly and extravagant gifts from both the unassuming and highly esteemed, to honor Jesus. (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus was born of a woman yet He existed before the universe was formed.

Want to know what’s really mind blowing? He formed His mother Mary in her own mother’s womb.

(Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭15‬, Jeremiah 1:4, Genesis 1:26)

As the saying goes, many babies have been born kings, but only one King has been born a baby.

He was divinely conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet He was referred to as “Mary’s bastard” by his enemies, considered the child of a prostitute by some, and lived as a disgraced outcast. (John 8:41)

Details of Jesus’ birth, life, and death are prophesied about over 350 times in the Old Testament scriptures, yet when He appeared and fulfilled every single one, He was scorned as a liar and heretic by the ones who knew the scriptures best. (Isaiah 53:3)

He set in place the physical laws of the universe yet He seemed to delight in defying them. (Matthew 14:25) (Mark 4:39)

He taught righteousness, repentance, and holy living, yet He spent most of His time loving on sinners and the dregs of society.

Jesus didn’t have much in terms of worldly wealth, yet He could supernaturally multiply food and call out gold from fish. (Matthew 27:17) (Mark 8)

He was the most humble man to ever walk the earth yet He created the very earth on which He walked.

He was hunted from the moment of His birth yet His death came only when He freely and willingly gave up His life.

He has the power to wipe out all evil, yet He sacrificed Himself in order to save evil doers.

He is the Conquering King and the suffering servant. 

He was blessed by God the Father for His life yet took His wrath on the cross in our place.

(Matthew 3:17)

He was sinless yet He paid the penalty for all sins. (Ephesians 2:24)

He was buried in a borrowed tomb, because He only needed it for three days. 

(Matthew 12:49)

He died the most horrific and painful death possible, yet death could not hold Him and He is alive forever more, enthroned in glory.

(1 Thessalonians 4:14)

Because He died, death has lost its sting.

(Revelation 20:14)

He is the Lion and the Lamb.

(John 1:36) (Revelation 5:5)

He is the God of eternity, and He took on human form so that we humans could be reformed for eternity. (Ephesians 2:6)

It is astounding to realize that the Creator of the universe, who made all things and holds them in place, humbled Himself to become a human being. The King of kings was a single cell at one point, and a helpless infant that was cradled and nourished by a mortal couple. Born into humble and poor circumstances He changed the world in a few short years all because He did not see fit to let us die in our sin and be cut off from The Father. God, in flesh and blood, experienced hell and died for the world, then rose again to conquer death and the grave. He rules and reigns and He is coming again to restore all that has been lost. 

He is the reason for the season.

He is the reason for every season.

He is the reason for all things.

Glory to God in the Highest.

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jason