Join in the comments below as we discuss a new name of Jesus each week of Advent. This season, we’re intentionally looking for Jesus, for His face in the midst of all of the world’s constant movement. We’re using Ann Spangler’s Immanuel: Praying the names of God through the Christmas Season, but you can join in without reading the book.
Jesus as a child. I sat yesterday morning, really thinking about the idea of Jesus, King of Kings, as an infant. I started thinking about babies, about my little niece and nephew, both so small, so helpless, so precious… yet unknown to the world at large outside of our circle of family and friends. I thought of all of the babies in all of the world, quietly sleeping or playing or eating… anonymous to the bulk of the world, helpless to take care of themselves.
That’s how Jesus chose to come to us. Anoymous to all but a few, His great power and holiness wrapped in the skin of a helpless baby. So, so counter to who He is. Every great thing in the universe in the shell of the weakest creature imagineable. He chose to make Himself helpless at a time when man was helpless to save himself.
Luke makes sure we know Jesus was not only a helpless baby, but born in the smallest of towns, in the lowliest of circumstances, to an unextraordinary young couple. He did not even come as a king or to a family of high regard but as the earthly equivalent of a “nobody.” No great name, no treasure, nothing to propel Him to greatness as a man.
Only a baby.
But what a baby!
Monday Praise–
Tuesday thoughts–
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” -Isaiah 9:6
What does it mean to you that Christ is given to US?
To us. Christ did not come one bit for Himself. He came for US. He is God’s gift to us, salvation through the baby Jesus. Shouldn’t I be more sacrificial, more loving? Jesus literally gave up heaven to be here, where he suffered unimagineably. Shouldn’t I be willing to step out of my comfort zone?