Marvel at Christmas

Cities Church, on this final Sunday of Christmastide, I have two simple questions for you.

Have You Marveled

First, have you seen Jesus this Christmas? Have you marveled at Christ? After all, isn’t that the whole point of Christmas? Don’t we confess during this season, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” — so that we, too, can say with John — “and we have seen his glory” (John 1:14)? 

Isn’t this the desire that drove the shepherds to Bethlehem after hearing the angels? After the glory of the Lord shone about them and the armies of heaven descended in song, they said,

“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15)

They ran to see Jesus. Saints, don’t you also want that? 

Martin Luther once said,

“We should busy ourselves completely with treating, knowing, and considering this man.”

So, I repeat my question, have you marveled at Jesus this season? Have you really considered the wondrous mysteries of his incarnation?

Have you considered that, at Christmas, the timeless One became young? He, who is older than forever, became younger than anyone in this room. The Son of God is from everlasting to everlasting, and yet you could number his hours on one hand. Have you marveled? 

Have you considered that the gigantic God became small? The God who does not dwell in temples made by human hands was enclosed in Mary’s womb. Of course, there was no room for them in the inn; heaven, even the highest heaven, can not contain him. And yet, as a wise man once said, that little cave in Bethlehem once held someone bigger than the whole world. Have you marveled?

Have you considered that the Almighty One became weak? Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe. He spins the spheres with his all-powerful hand, and yet he took to himself ten infant fingers that could grasp nothing. The Fountain of Living Water needed to drink his mother’s milk. There was a time when the Alpha and Omega learned to crawl. Have you marveled?

Have you considered that the eternal Word of God became wordless? At Christmas, the one who upholds all things moment by moment by the word of his power became speechless. The God who announced to Moses ‘I AM’, the God who answered Job out of the whirlwind, the God who thundered over Sinai now coos in the cradle. Friend, have you marveled? 

And these are but the mere fringes of the Christmas glory of Jesus Christ! If you have not marveled this season, it is not because there is a lack of marvels. Christmas has no want of wonders.

Now if you have seen Jesus, I have a second question for you.  

Have You Made Known

Who have you shared your wonder with? Who have you told about this man Jesus? Remember, the shepherds didn’t just see Jesus, they shared him.

“They made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. . . . and [they] returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:17, 20)

Saints, to whom have you said this season: “O come, let us adore him” together?

Because adoration and wonder, just like joy, are not complete until they are shared. They are not full until they overflow. So, parents, have you helped your kids to marvel? Husbands, have you shepherded your wives into wonder? Wives, have you regaled your husbands? Friends, have you done the most friendly thing imaginable and helped others see what you’ve seen of Christ? Pastors, have you consistently and creatively helped your people enjoy Jesus?

Brother and Sisters, this is the whole pith and pleasure of Christmas and my exhortation to you — marvel at Jesus and make his glory known. So, as we move into a time of confession, I leave you with these two questions: have you seen Jesus and have you shared him?

Let’s pray,

Father, thank you for sending your Son by the power of your Spirit. Thank you that the fullness of your deity, the ocean of your beauty, and the unfathomable riches of your love are hidden in plain sight in Jesus. Forgive us for our blindness and our deafness. Forgive us for the coldness and hardness of our hearts. Forgive us for our lack of awe. Strengthen us, by your Spirit, to be attentive to glory. Wake us up to wonder. Make our whole hearts hunger and thirst after you, and with all our longing to desire to see you. Meet us here in this time of silent confession.