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Christmas is about the Incarnation — the humiliation of Christ in taking on flesh, becoming one of us, with redemption fully in view.  On one hand, it is the beginning of Easter.  It’s the beginning of the historical event in which God entered creation so as to redeem and heal that creation, as promised many years before right after that perfect creation was broken in the Garden of Eden.  In fact, all history before that first Christmas pointed to that event in anticipation – and then it happened! Not in a majestic show of power, but with a small beginning – in a feeding trough in a small town in Israel.

Listen to this song by Andy Gullahorn (based on “An Advent Monologue” by Walt Wangerin).  Who is the girl in the song (and story)? At first, it seems it could be anyone.  Then when you hear the surprise ending (which now you know is coming), you might think it’s Mary.  But the story doesn’t fully fit.  I think she represents the people of God.   Apart from Christ, condemnation is all we hear.  In the years before Christ’s first coming, God’s people had fallen away, been used and abused by false prophets and led by false gods. The law was a harsh schoolmaster, and brought condemnation and fear.  But when Christ came, God did a new thing. He entered that creation, was the law — the Word made flesh — fully man while fully God; experiencing all the pain of this world… so as to lead His people out of bondage into freedom as the Bride of Christ.

Merry Christmas!