Fix your eyes on Jesus

There's a very old cartoon by H.T. Webster entitled "Life in Harden County [Illinois] in 1809." It shows two men talking. "Any news, Ezzie?" "Squire McClendon's gone down to Washington to see Harding sworn in." "I hear Bonaparte's trying to subdue Spain." "New baby boy born down the street at the Lincolns'. Nothin' exciting ever happens around here." But of course something exciting had happened: That new little life would one day reshape American history. But the first Christmas produced the most dramatic event on earth so far: The Son of God was born on our planet -- in a part of His process to reshape all human history from start to finish. Out of the ivory palaces into a world of woe; Only His great, eternal love made my Savior go. He had always, eternally, been alive and active. "In the beginning was the Word," says John 1:1 -- reaching back beyond creation, before Genesis 1:1! Just as His death was not the end of Him, so His birth was not the beginning of Him.1 He was God. And yet He came to this world and . . . made himself nothing . . . being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7). Incredible! He created everything -- and then He voluntarily submitted to His own creation! He became tired and thirsty, just like one of us. Before, He'd been so furious against sin that He refused at first to lead His people into the promised land: He said they were so rebellious, He "might destroy [them] on the way" (Exodus 33:3). Yet descending to earth, He stooped so far down that He meekly asked a prostitute for a drink of water. Truly, profoundly, "He humbled himself" (Philippians 2:8). Jesus was a man -- but don't ever forget He was and is God. Centuries before He came, Isaiah had predicted that a child would be born, a Son would be given, with these magnificent names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). After His return to heaven, superstitions sprouted about just what His nature really was. And Colossians was written to say, "Look, people, get it straight: Jesus Christ isn't a maxi-angel, He isn't a mini-God --" He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created . . . by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together . . . God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Colossians 1:15-19)! In Zechariah 13:6-7, God the Father calls the Messiah His "Associate," His Fellow, His Equal. In Isaiah 40:10 Christ is called "Jehovah," a name so glorious the Hebrews left out its vowels -- "YHWH," making it unpronounceable. And whenever a scribe copying Scriptures wrote out that name, he would first wipe his pen and dip it in fresh ink. This is our Holy One, Jesus Christ the Lord, the Son of God. When Peter called Him this -- "the Christ, the Son the of living God" -- Jesus answered, "Blessed are you" (Matthew 16:16-17). John told all his readers it was the reason he wrote his book: That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31). Is your heart right now bowed in acknowledgment? Fix your eyes on Jesus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A prayer: Lord, I say with Job, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5). And I say with Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). * * * * * The night was long, and the shadows spread As far as the eye could see; I stretched my hands to a human Christ, And He walked through the dark with me! Out of the dimness at last we came, Our feet on the dawn-warmed sod; And I saw by the light of His wondrous eyes I walked with the Son of God. --Harriet Ward Beecher