The mystery and message of Christmas

For Christians, Christmas is a day of worship, a day of miracle and mystery, the day the baby Jesus arrived in his unique incarnation as God-made-man. This paradox of Jesus’ nature as both fully God and fully human only adds to the sense of mystery, awe, joy and love with which he is worshipped.

Philippians 2:6-8 explains the mystery of God-made-man this way:

“Although He existed in the form of God he did not consider equality a thing to be grasped, but instead emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death upon a cross.”

Such uncompromising devotion to the will of his Father, God, is understood to spring from Jesus’ innate goodness. He lived, taught and epitomized the core of Old Testament teaching found in Deut. 6:5-6: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” to which he added the second-greatest command, to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Philosophers and theologians throughout the ages have observed the seemingly universal human impulse to seek God. The Christian theology of “God-made-man,” unlike other religions, uniquely emphasizes God’s mission to seek his children.

Equal with God, prophesied as Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus’ prophetic mission called men and women back to God, so they could, as the prodigal son did, return home to the father where they belonged. As a man Jesus was acquainted with sorrow and grief so he could comfort those who mourn and heal the brokenhearted.

This babe born in a manger, surrounded by wise men, angels and shepherds, was born to seek those lost in the isolation of sin, sickness and imminent death. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his consequent resurrection gave those who believe in him the gift of eternal companionship with God.

Moreover, the image of God is revived within believers, so they might love the Lord with all their hearts, minds and souls.

The impact, throughout the ages, of Christ’s appearance in the world cannot be denied. The birth of this baby in Bethlehem eventually led to an evangelistic explosion, which according to the book of Acts of the Apostles, began in Jerusalem, spread through Judea and Samaria and “even to the remotest part of the world.” History tells us that the Roman Empire fell to Christianity under Emperor Constantine.

Today, Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with more than 2 billion adherents; it is preached in remote parts of the world never fathomed by the author of Acts.

And so we give due respect to the Christian faith, which has broken beyond the boundaries of whatever may have seemed possible in the first century, while we also celebrate every person’s right to freely worship and articulate their beliefs.

Christmas reminds us of the responsibility and necessity to seek and value all that is good in this world.

We pray that, today of all days, those who feel lost may be found, that those who mourn will find comfort and that prodigals may be welcomed home. When genuine love is extended to our families, friends and neighbors, we just may find that the miracle and mystery of Christmas still has the power to change the world.

Merry Christmas.

This editorial was first published in the Orange County Register on Dec. 25, 2004.