As we approach the Birth of Jesus, it might be time for a quick review. The Gospel of John begins with:

(John 1:1-2)1NIV New International Version Translations – “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God”

Yes, Jesus is the “Word of God.” But why did humanity need a Christmas? Why didn’t Jesus show up as an adult with His message of hope? Why in the world would God send our Redeemer as a child? This child must have been REALLY SPECIAL! His job was to save humankind.

The reason for Jesus’ birth is stated in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The arrival of Jesus in human form was the first step of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. It is easy to lose this important significance in Jesus’ birth. We were lost and needed to be redeemed! The world needed to know God and His Truth. To convince a skeptic world, God would begin with a child, a gifted child. And what were the child Jesus’ special gifts?

  • His verbal ability was far beyond his age.
  • Jesus had an unusual capacity for processing information.
  • He had a high curiosity level and would dive into subjects with a passion not seen in most children of his age.
  • His human memory retention allowed Him to retain information faster and for longer periods of time. He could process information faster too.
  • The child Jesus approached learning with intensity. This also provided Him with the ability to show compassion to others at a much deeper level. As a child, Jesus never lost sight of the “Big Picture.”
  • The child Jesus had a sense of justice. His moral compass made Him an effective leader, even as a child.
  • We would have very few parables had it not been for Jesus’ strong imagination. As a child, Jesus was an independent thinker. He could creatively conceptualize stories that had power, power to change people.
  • The child Jesus came with an attention to detail. He could solve problems quickly.

God chose to send us a truly exceptional child. It is easy to lose sight of who Jesus the child was and the reason for Christmas. There is so much pomp and circumstance that surrounds the holiday today. It is a media frenzy. Hundreds of ships all stuck offshore loaded with “Christmas.” Oh, what will the people do? Not to worry, our world will just rename the holiday to something else, like a festive winter holiday with holiday trees. Don’t forget to buy your “Seasons Greetings” cards. But where is the birth story of a child Savior? Do we honor this “Gifted Child first?

The entry of Jesus into the world as a child reveals the true nature of God Himself. In Jesus the child, we have God revealed to us in a more perfect and glorious manner than any previous revelation. Where else in our Bible do you see God as a child? How else do we learn about the parental love of our Father?

(John 1:18) – “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Jesus came as the Divine Interpreter of God the Father. He said:

(John 14:9) – “Jesus answered: ’“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?’”

The birth of Jesus makes it possible for all to know God, even as children. For humanity to relate to God, God had to become one of us. What better way to teach humanity than to become part of the human story? We now study the life of Jesus to know our God. Without Jesus, God would remain just a mysterious omni-present power to fear. Jesus, the child, shows us the True Grace of our God. Jesus the adult shows us the redemptive path to salvation.

(John 1:16-17) – “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The child Jesus reveals God’s grace as full of tenderness, gentleness, compassion, and is attractive enough to want people to draw close to Him. God calls us through the CHILD to love and live a life committed to God our Father. The only way we achieve this relationship is by surrendering our lives to the CHILD because the child Jesus has direct access to God. “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18). The birth of Jesus reveals to us what is True about God. Jesus came as a child into our world, revealing God’s nature as tenderhearted, longsuffering, and forgiving. Jesus is our Hope and our “Truth.

(John 14:6) – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

As we celebrate the coming of Jesus again this year, most of our world could care less about a Savior, let alone a gifted child. People have abandon God for the holiday rituals and submitted to the power of a sinful world. In sadness, our world has become very good at abandoning its children.  Abortions, drugs, trafficking, broken homes and/or race bating in our world are a few of the risks of being a child now. Is the next cure for all viruses affecting humanity lost forever because a gifted child will be abandoned by the world? How many future scientists, doctors, teachers, engineers, will not survive the onslaught of a sinful world against them? Jesus the child came to make a difference in our world and in everyone’s lives. Jesus the child showed us the way to our God. For this season, let’s be thankful that Jesus was not born to us in our time. Our world today would have not only encouraged an unwed teenager to have an abortion but would have applauded her decision. Would the world today have abandoned Jesus before He could save us from ourselves?

Contemplations

  • How do you celebrate the “child side of Christmas?”
    • Ideas to Explore: Nativity scenes, decorating around the story of Jesus’ birth. Unique family traditions?
  • Have you ever celebrated Christmas with a birthday cake?
    • Ideas to Explore: Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. Have you done specific things to emphasize that point?
  • How do you remember those who do not have the resources to celebrate a robust Christmas?
    • Ideas to Explore: Food drives, donating presents to organizations like “Toys for Tots.”
  • What risks do you see for children in our society today?
    • Ideas to Explore: Educational bias? Influence of social media? Economic risks such as national debt? Legalization of drugs?
  • How do we protect the sanctity of childhood?
    • Ideas to Explore: Give this some thought: What will you personally do to protect the children of the world?
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    NIV New International Version Translations