Just My Size
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son. (Luke 2:6)
God’s gift of Christmas is just my size. It is a perfect fit for my small brain.
People being taxed; shepherds keeping watch; and a baby being born—I can wrap my mind around that.
Christmas brings God to us on our level.
It is difficult to even imagine the scene of the Creator bringing everything out of nothing. The trumpet blast from a smoking Mount Sinai frightens me. A bush that burns, but does not burn up; a pillar of fire that moves, but never goes out—I know these are views of my God, but the sights are foreign to me.
The words omniscient, omnipresent and eternal are accurate descriptions of the God I bow before in worship. But I cannot comprehend them.
Much about the God of grace and glory is a mystery to me. I simply cannot untangle the complexity of the Trinity. My mind hits a roadblock at the concept of one God, but three persons.
But the greatest mystery is his love for me. I have never met him face-to-face. How does he know about me? Why does he even care about me?
I have no answer for that except to repeat what he says to his people: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
How do I explain such love? I cannot.
But with the eyes of faith I have seen the proof of that love. In my mind’s eye I can see the wretched pieces of wood that were chosen to make up the instrument on which the Son of God would die. In the recesses of my soul I can hear the horrible echoing words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
I know the answer to that tormented scream. I am the cause of this. It is my guilt that nailed him to the cross. But it is his love for me that kept the nails in.
Such knowledge is too great for me to grasp.
And ascending into heaven? Returning on clouds of glory in judgment? That, too, is beyond my understanding. I can only guess at what that is like; can only say, “How great thou art.”
So much about the Savior God is too big for me.
But, not Christmas. The Son of God could have entered our world in many different ways. After all, with him nothing is impossible.
But, he chose to be born as a baby. No blazing fire, no earthquake, no trumpet blast. Just a baby born in lowliness. Nothing to terrify us. That’s Christmas.
For me, God’s gift of Christmas is a perfect fit.
We pray:
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son into this world as a small child, meek and mild. Of course, we must thank you for the gift of Life that he brought to us. But, we want to thank you, as well, for the manner that you did it. You lowered yourself to our level. You gave us a scene we could understand, even be drawn to. You gave us Christmas.
Amen.
Written by Pastor Paul Ziemer, WELS National Civilian Chaplain
and Liaison to the Military, Cape Coral, Florida
Provided by WELS Ministry to the Military
