December 5 - The Paradox of Christmas

The Paradox of Christmas

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  ‘Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.’” (Isaiah 7:14)

Several years ago, my friend Stan Simmons shared a story about his wife Ginger, whose friends had prepared a birthday celebration.  They thought of everything down to the last detail.  They shopped for streamers, bought the cake, sent the invitations, bought presents, and even barbequed the food.  Nothing was left undone.  Nothing, that is, except they forgot to invite the guest of honor.  Through their preparation, Ginger had become a last minute thought.

Such an event seems unheard of, but truthfully, it happens at least once a year in as many settings as Christmas is celebrated.  Parties are planned, gifts are given, food is prepared, invitations are sent, and schedules are sealed.  The only thing missing is the honored guest…Christ Himself.  Roger Carswell once wrote that Christmas from the beginning has been loaded with paradoxes or a statement that seems contrary to common sense.  Scripture records a number of them:

1)   A VIRGIN GAVE BIRTH

Seven hundred years before Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah said: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  ‘Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.’” (Isaiah 7:14)  God chose that which was beyond human possibility to signify the coming into the world of the promised Messiah.

2)   GOD BECAME A MAN

Long ago, God condescended to live in this world as a man.  Although He had every right and reason to wash His hands of the world, He loved it, especially the people who lived there.  He left the wonders of heaven to come to the woes of the world.

3)   CHRIST WAS TO DIE

Another paradox is to fully understand Jesus, including the Christmas story.  You have to look past the crib to the cross.  Jesus’ greatest act was not healing the sick or feeding the 5000, but rather dying on the cross.

4)   JESUS LEFT HEAVEN SO WE COULD GO THERE

Christ left heaven to come to earth so that when we leave earth, we can go to heaven.  Although he was destined to die, after three days, Jesus rose from the dead.  We can be sure of heaven not because we deserve it, but because the Son came to bring us into an everlasting relationship with the Father.

5)   THE GUEST OF HONOR WAS NOT INVITED

Every Christmas, millions exclude Jesus from His own celebration.  How strange to leave out the guest of honor!  Surely Christ should never be excluded from the Christmas party.  Yet it has always been the same.

From the time Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, there has been no room in some places.  But this Christmas it can be different in the lives of people who invited the honored guest.  I heard some time ago about a little girl who was asked, “What did you get for Christmas?”  She said, “Some good things…but it wasn’t my birthday anyhow.”

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   How can you make sure to invite Christ into your Christmas?

2)   Have you found Him being left out at points in the past?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser