On Thanksgiving Day, everyone gathered at my grandmother’s for lunch joined hands to ask God’s blessing on our meal. Just before my daddy prayed, my younger son announced that he and his wife are expecting my second grandchild in June. I gave his hand a squeeze and glanced across at his wife who was holding my three month old grandson. He wiggled and squirmed, eager to run! My daughter says he will just skip crawling and go straight to running. He’s a very active little boy! All this makes me wonder what this newest little baby will be like when he or she arrives. One thing is certain- it will be exciting!
As we enter the season of Advent, we await the birth of a baby, the Son of God. The Bible calls Jesus the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). The Holy One of God, (John 6:69) the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13) came into the world as an ordinary baby. He cried when he gasped for his first breath. He cried when he was hungry, sleepy, in need of a clean bottom. The Son of God depended on an imperfect man and woman to care for Him, protect Him, and meet His immediate needs.
At times I am tempted to see Jesus only in His glory and I forget that He fully embraced His humanity for me. The largest part of His earthly journey was spent being obedient to His parents. No doubt Mary and Joseph snapped when they were sleep deprived. They absolutely forgot to feed Jesus on a strict schedule, especially as they fled the county as Herod searched for the One born King of the Jews. As the firstborn of siblings, I’m sure Jesus got blamed for something he didn’t do. Not only was He a real live baby, but He was a little boy. Jesus wandered off from the group and was separated from his frantic parents for several days. He was fully God, yes, but He was also fully human.
“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”
Colossians 2:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.2.9.NLT
I’ve had the opportunity to stay with my daughter and her husband to help care for my first grandson. I’m always amazed at how such a tiny boy can monopolize so much attention. I remember the raising of my children being challenging, but I’m always tired! I get up during the night to soothe my grandson so his mom and dad can sleep uninterrupted. I play peekaboo and sing lullabies. Babies are high maintenance and I’m sure baby Jesus was no different. Bless Mary who knew without a doubt that she was responsible for the Son of God!
“The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.1.35.NLT
So as we enter this Advent season, I am more than ever picturing a baby, long foretold. This baby would be like none other but He was still very definitely a baby. As you read the prophecies and Luke’s account of the virgin birth, thank God with me for taking on flesh.
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
John 1:1-4, 14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.1.1-14.NLT
“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.15-16.NLT
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for disarming us by Your innocence. You allowed Yourself to become needy. You submitted Yourself to the authority of earthly parents. You are God alone and You became man so that we might be reconciled to You. As we prepare our hearts for the babe in the manger, help us to remember just how far You were willing to go to show Your great love for us. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
A Fitting Reply 