Never Stop Staring

  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2

A friend of mine birthed a baby boy on Sunday—a 9 pound, 2 ounce, chubby, cuddly, near-‘bout-perfect human being. Because we don’t live in the same town, I haven’t seen him yet in person, but thanks to technology, the pictures keep coming—and almost all of them are the same. A parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend is holding that sweet baby and staring. In only a few of the shots is the full face of the adult visible because their eyes are focused on the infant. The photo isn’t about them but him. They just happen to be the ones privileged at the moment to have him in their arms.

 

If the story sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The virgin Mary had a baby boy—a cuddly, crying, absolutely perfect human being, and since none of us lived during that time, we haven’t seen Him in person yet, but thanks to the timeless Word, the pictures keep coming—and almost all of them are the same. An amazed Mary and Joseph stare at the miracle in the manger. Breathless shepherds gawk at God wrapped in strips of cloth.  Wondering Wise Men gaze on the greatest gift ever given. We are told little about them but much about Him because all eyes are focused on the infant. They just happen to be the ones privileged at the moment to be in His presence.

 

But the album doesn’t end in Bethlehem. Every turning page brings a scene of someone else seeing Jesus. John the Baptist cries out that he is looking at the Lamb of God. Nicodemus sneaks a visit at night and leaves seeing the Light. Fishermen abandon their nets when they notice Jesus waving them His way. Zacchaeus climbs a tree to catch a glimpse and gets a guest. Bartimaeus shouts out for sight, and his first look is at His Lord. The centurion watches Christ die and declares Him divine, and at the sound of her name, Mary Magdalene’s weeping eyes look straight into those of the resurrected King.

 

No one who truly sees Jesus stays the same, and while our sight of the Savior isn’t physical (yet), the eyes of our hearts have been opened to view Him through faith.  “Though you have not seen him, you love him.  And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls”(1 Peter 1:8-9). Because of this great grace, each moment of every day, especially these days as we close out Christmas and begin a brand new year, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”(Hebrews 12:2).

 

No matter where you look, no one or no thing will ever be more beautiful than Jesus.

Never stop staring.

 

 

Back To Business

 One glance around my parent’s living room announces that Christmas is quickly going, going, gone. The recliner has reclaimed its corner from the Christmas tree. A flower arrangement has found its familiar spot on the coffee table. Bare spindles on the staircase no longer boast holiday ribbon, and the nativity is boxed for storage in the basement. Though the scene seems a bit sad, the first Christmas was much the same. After the burst of initial excitement, life settled back down. Joseph and family moved from the barn to a house in town.  The manger was reclaimed as a feeding trough. Angels shifted to their next assignment, shepherds headed back to the pasture, and wise men returned to the east.

But just because life settled down didn’t mean life was the same. It wouldn’t be and couldn’t be. The newborn’s cry on Christmas night meant that a carpenter became the step-dad of the Savior. It meant that a scorned teenage mom would always ponder with wonder—and smile.  It meant that shepherds who weren’t allowed in the temple had stared at the face of God.  And it meant that some really smart guys saw a star travel the wrong way to lead them to the right place.

No matter how many benches Joseph might build, he couldn’t hammer away the fact that this baby’s mama had been a virgin. No matter how many suppers Mary might serve, she knew that the toddler in the high chair was the Son of the Most High. No matter how many straying sheep the shepherds might rescue, they were sure they were the ones who had been found. And no matter how many royals the magi might meet, they realized they had bowed to the one true King. For all involved in Bethlehem’s divine drama, all of life for the rest of their lives would be filtered through the fact that God had come to them—and for them.

Two millennia later that truth still holds top billing, and though the holiday season is ending, don’t pack the declaration away with the decorations.

Back-to-business never means back-to-business-as-usual once you realize that God came for you.

“For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”

 

Good News of Great Joy

 “I bring you good news of great joy.  Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:7

They could use some good news. Rome occupied their homeland, ruling with a heavy hand and a ruthless heart. Taxes were up, spirits were down, and times were hard. Ancient prophecies of a Savior seemed only distant dreams. Promises of peace and joy appeared as empty words. Daily the priests offered the required sacrifices. Daily the people lifted their desperate prayers. And God had been silent for 400 years. 

Then a mother moaned.  A baby cried.  And the angels sang.

Good news of great joy!

God has come to taste our suffering.

God has come to take our sin.

Light pierced the darkness, and death’s deep shadow was dispelled. Our only Hope had left His heaven to embrace His earth.  “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory.” (John 1:14).

 Rejoice greatly! Rejoice gratefully!God is with us.

 May our hearts be ready to receive the Greatest of God’s Wonders!

Merry Marvelous Christmas!