One evening in the small town of Bethlehem, a baby’s cry ripped through the silence of the prophets and pierced through the heart of humanity. The babe that lay in that manger was the one who created the air He breathed. It is mind-boggling to consider that the God who created the heavens and the earth came and wrapped Himself in the flesh to seek and save the lost.
The Israelites waited so long for a king, a savior, and a messiah to come. They hoped and longed for the day they would see the Son of Man! Throughout the Old Testament, God paints a picture of what this long-awaited Messiah would look like. Within the first few pages of the Bible, God promises that there will be a seed from Eve that will overthrow the evil one (Genesis 3:15). He had a plan to redeem us, to bring us back to Eden, to a perfect relationship with Him, and ultimately to make all things new.
In Exodus 6:6-7 God says, “I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” There would be a coming messiah that would bring us not out of bondage from the Egyptians but out from the bondage of sin!
Thousands of years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This is good news because our waiting has ceased for the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace has come and his name is Jesus. He is the one that our souls longed for, and He is the one who can quench our insatiable hearts!
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of women, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).
This Jesus. This Jesus is worthy of all our praise and honor. “He made no show of the manger, and yet the heavenly hosts leaned in because nothing in the universe is more captivating than what was happening hidden in plain sight” (Pokluda).
“And found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has exalted Him and given Him the name above every name, that as the name of Jesus, every knee should bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:8-11).
God humbled Himself! He humbled Himself by coming as a babe in the manger, which all the more points to the brutal death He would die on the cross so that through His resurrection we would have eternal life! What a spectacular truth! I’m on my knees in speechless wonder. The greatness of God has led my heart to tremble. Compared to God, I am tiny, yet He came and dwelt among us!
I challenge you to take a moment at the beginning of this new year to remember how the Lord has been faithful and faithful in your life and throughout history. Lean into the truth of Christmas and fix your eyes upon the finished work of the cross!! Our savior has come, and He is returning; this time, it’s to make all things new!
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”… “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts” (Revelation 21:5-6).
A prayer for the new year!
Lord, thank you for being faithful!! Since the garden of Eden, you have remained loyal! I praise you, for by your son Jesus, we are redeemed! This year, I pray that you will be magnified in me. As time ticks on and the world awaits your return, I hope you will be faithful. Please give us the strength and the boldness to press on to receive the prize. Father, use us in a way that only you could. Come and give us new life and restore a steadfast spirit within us. You, Lord, are all that I am after, Father. Your heart is what I desire. Our hearts cry, “Abba father, Lord, come and make all things new.” We gaze to the one who has seen the end of days. We worship the one who was in the beginning and will be there in the end!! It’s in the holy name of Jesus, I pray, amen!!
Your sister in Christ,
Emily
