One of my favorite devotionals of all time at Christmas is a book by Max Lucado called God Came Near. For some reason, his words always seem to get me in the right place that I need to remember what Christmas is all about. I want to share with you one of my favorite sections. Perhaps this will help you as well as you approach these final days.
He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty. Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of star-gazers, there would have been no gifts.
Angels watched as Mary changed God's diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk ... for thirty-three years he wold feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.
To think of Jesus is such a light is - well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn't it? It's not something we like to do; its uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manager. He's easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.
But don't do it, for heaven's sake, don't. Let him be as human as He intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.
- Scott