A CHRISTMAS PARADOX
Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – December 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley
What comes to mind when you think of the word "greatness"? Pop culture tells us that greatness is associated with wealth, fame, power, and charisma. Included in that list would be world-class athletes, A-list celebrities, world leaders and business tycoons. Fawning multitudes shower them with accolades and attention. They throw award parties so that they may honor each other. Even those with precious few of these qualities, can milk a stunning success from "likes" on social media.
In contrast, James Allen Francis writes of a man in his poem, "One Solitary Life," who was born in an obscure village: who never wrote a book, never held an office, never won an award, never had a family or owned a home. Though he never traveled far from where he was born, he had more influence on this world than all the kings and armies that have ever lived combined. This man is none other than Jesus of Nazareth.
In the midst of political and religious turmoil, he was born to a poor peasant woman in an animal stable and laid in a feeding trough. Not much is known of his earthly father, but that he was a just man and often called "the carpenter." The Bible reveals that his mother, Mary, was a virgin and this baby was the long awaited Messiah; and as Sovereign he would be crowned King of Kings, Lord of Lords. His life has been depicted in countless movies and television specials. Popular songs such as a Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger have memorialized his birth.
All the features of worldly greatness: wealth, beauty and intimidating power, did not come to mind when one thought of Jesus. This King did not have a typical royal welcome. There were no national headlines proclaiming the birth of this King. There was no press, or courtiers waiting outside of his birthing chamber to learn whether the new royal child would be a prince or a princess. Instead, the first people to hear about the birth of this King were simple shepherds in the nearby hills. That unlikely crowd was the audience of angels who announced that the Savior of the world was born. Though this child’s first visitors were not very significant, eventually Wise Men from the East came hundreds of miles with regal gifts acknowledging Him as King.
The gospel of John tells us that no human greatness could compare to him because, "…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." God became one of us and lived with us.
This great and glorious king showed what true greatness was – not living above the people but coming to serve. He gave up His throne next to God the Father, to become human, so that we could get closer to Him. He was a Child born, a Son given.
Since the days of Adam and Eve and that fateful bite of the forbidden fruit, we have witnessed six millennia of human degradation and immeasurable suffering. But, this King, humbled himself to actually die on a cross and give His life to save the people He made. Does not our heart yearn for such good news?
The prophets of old foretold the coming of the Messiah hundreds of years before His arrival. The Israelites awaited a warrior, a mighty king to overthrow the ruthless Roman government and re-establish the people of Israel in their promised land. Yet, this king who would sit on the throne of David, came as a helpless baby.
The Bible contains many paradoxes, but none are more absurd than waiting for a powerful warrior king for hundreds of years and getting a poor defenseless child in response. Yet the eternal God entering into time and becoming human, is the answer to all the hopes and dreams we could ever imagine. His sacrificial love and atoning death achieve the greatest victory of all – our salvation.