Looking at Jesus as a baby in the cradle, everyone can agree on His innocence.
But standing at the next to last station at the live nativity – my son asked me if it was weird that it didn’t freak him out anymore, if it was ok, that he looked on Jesus on the cross with the same tenderness he felt as he looked on the baby in the stable.
Isn’t it true?
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
From the womb to the cross to the tomb I can’t think of a better way to honor and celebrate this time where much of the world turns its attention to the manger scene.
“We praise You Lord, as baby Jesus – we thank You for coming down. We praise Your willingness to die on the cross. We are grateful for the evidence of Your love in the empty tomb. We thank You for the day when we will rise up and be with You forever.”
I know God’s love for us meets us in the exact space and time where we are when we speak His name and ask Him to become His. Forever.
When the angels appeared, the shepherds responded with great and trembling fear. Look how God’s love was evident in the angels words. –
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10 ESV
Great joy. For all of us.
Good news.
Fear is not from God. Fear moves in when it is fed by our unbelief and we give it space allowing it to grow.
May we speak His name with humble confidence and open hearts – laying aside all fear and filling with forgiveness as we walk forward in peace.
Because of the manger, the life, the cross and the empty tomb – peace.
The peace the shepherds knew as they walked away from the baby Jesus in the manger that night, returning to their pastures. In wonder and awe.
In wonder and awe,
Janet
December 24, 2018