“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows…” Matthew 1:18

Gift of Grace

Jesus was physically and historically born a man upon the earth. Millions of men have been born likewise before and since and yet this birth was unique. God came down. It didn’t happen like we would expect. We never could have comprehended this birth. There were no spotlights crisscrossing the skies. There were no banner headlines. For the most part it was quiet, humble, and commonplace. A few unassuming individuals were made aware, but for the majority of mankind it was a night like any other.

Jesus came from a lineage tainted with Gentile blood, prostitutes, and adulterers. Why would God do that? Why was the Messiah born in an occupied and oppressed land? Why were his “parents” poor? Wasn’t He royalty? Didn’t He deserve so much better than this meager manger?

Who would expect God to show up like this? There was astounding wisdom and truth behind the way He came. Jesus came as a man to identify with all mankind. He linked Himself deliberately to our terminal sin disease, to our oppression and depression, to all nations and all peoples, to the downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the defeated. He allowed Himself to associate with all our mess because He came to do something spectacular and powerful about it all. He found us where we were, as we were, and He loved us there.

He came as that wee, holy baby. He came to save, to redeem, to deliver, to liberate. He came for each one of us. Not one is too far gone, too deep in sin, too addicted, too crazy, too unstable, too angry, too tortured—for with God, nothing is impossible. It is why He came. Emmanuel, God with us! For He will save His people from their sins.

“Father, Your love for us is staggering. We deserved destruction, but You had a better plan. Thank You for seeking and saving that which was lost. We celebrate You. Amen.”