The Word became human and lived among us.
—John 1:14
I’ve been blessed to have celebrated many Christmases in my life. I won’t tell you exactly how many, but lots. The older I get, the faster time passes. It feels like I just take the Christmas tree down, and it’s time to put it back up again. As I reflect on the years gone by, I have to admit I experienced my first real Christmas in 1999. This was the Christmas I finally “got it.” I was at the Christmas Eve worship service halfway through my chemo treatments and wearing a wig to cover my bald head when our worship leader sang, Emmanuel, God is With Us. The words pierced my heart. God is with us. The same God who created the heavens and earth, set the stars in place and called them by name, came to earth as a humble baby. Love came down. I couldn’t wrap my mind around a God who would give up His rights as God and make Himself nothing; a God who would take the humble position of a slave and appear on earth in human form (Philippians 2:6-7).
Why would He do such a thing? God sent His Son to earth to restore what Satan stole in the Garden of Eden. It was always His intention to live in intimate relationship with us, but after the “fall,” mankind was banished from His presence. From that point on, generation after generation of people repeatedly turned their hearts away from God to follow their sinful nature, even though He extended His mercy countless times. By the time Jesus came, the Jews were hopelessly oppressed by the Roman Empire, desperately waiting for their long awaited Messiah to come to establish a new kingdom and rule the world with justice.
They had good reason for hope. Over 300 prophesies said He would come to save them. Micah foretold of a Ruler who will “stand and lead His flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God,” and “He will be the source of our peace” (Micah 5:4,5). The prophet Isaiah said the people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow (Isaiah 9:2). He prophesied the mission of Jesus when He said: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed” (Isaiah 61:1).
The ministry of Jesus officially began when he visited the synagogue in His boyhood home of Nazareth and read the prophetic words of Isaiah that He had come to heal the brokenhearted, release the captives, restore sight to the blind, and free the downtrodden from their oppressors (Luke 4:18). Then He added: “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day” (Luke 4:21)! But this was not His only purpose for coming. After He destroyed sin’s control over us by sacrificing His life on the cross, He sent the Holy Spirit to restore the relationship we had with Him in the Garden by dwelling in each believer.
This year, like every year, I’ll enjoy choosing special gifts for my loved ones and carefully wrapping them in beautiful paper and ribbons to put under the tree. With each package I wrap, I never forget that the first gift wrap was swaddling clothes. There are many things you might want for Christmas this year, but there is only one thing you truly need. Jesus satisfies every want and need you will ever have. The best Christmas present you will ever receive is the privilege of living in His “presence.” Love came down. Receive the gift!
Excerpted from Peace For Each Hour by Mary J. Nelson; Copyright © 2013; ISBN 978-1938388170; Published by Comfort Publishers; Unauthorized duplication prohibited.