Every December the world pauses, some willingly, some wearily, to tell the story that divided history in two. We call it Christmas, but heaven called it Rescue Day.
In that Bethlehem stable, eternity stepped into time, majesty into a manger and divinity into humanity.
The Creator became part of his creation.
The Infinite became an infant.
The Almighty became approachable.
The Word became flesh and moved into our neighbourhood.
As C.S. Lewis said, ‘The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.’ That’s the true Christmas story. Not just that a baby was born, but that God came down.
The Miracle in the Manger
Napoleon Bonaparte was once asked if he thought Jesus was merely another great man. He replied, ‘I know men, and Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison.’
He was right.
Caesar had armies, but Jesus had angels.
Caesar built an empire through power; Jesus built a kingdom through love.
Caesar could make people tremble; Jesus makes hearts sing.
Bethlehem wasn’t an afterthought, it was the Almighty’s arrival.
The Maker of the stars came to sleep beneath them.
The Bread of Life was laid in a feeding trough.
The One who spoke the universe into being could only gurgle and cry.
Christmas reminds us that God doesn’t wait for us to climb up to him – he came down to us.
The God Who Drew Near
There’s an old story about a farmer sitting by his fire one freezing night as a snowstorm raged outside. He noticed a small flock of birds fluttering against his window, desperate for shelter. He opened his barn doors, scattered hay, and tried to coax them in – but the birds were too afraid. He thought, If only I could become one of them for a moment, then they’d understand I’m trying to save them.
And that’s when it struck him: that’s exactly what God did at Christmas. That’s Christmas:
God with skin on.
God who didn’t shout his love from heaven but showed it on earth.
In Jesus, God came close enough to touch, to weep, to bleed. Close enough to rescue.
He became one of us so that we could become one with him.
Don’t Miss the Message
The tragedy is that many people miss it.
Some deny the story: ‘It’s just a myth,’ they say, ‘like Santa with sandals.’
Some dull it down: ‘I’ve heard it all before. I was the donkey in the school nativity.’
Some distort it, turning Christmas into a campaign, a culture or a cosy tradition.
And many more disguise it, buried under tinsel, turkey and television.
But let’s not confuse the wrapping with the gift. The wrapping is temporary, the gift is eternal.
The true gift of Christmas is not a thing but a person, and that person is God himself.
The Wonder That Changes Everything
The apostle Paul expressed it perfectly in Philippians 2:6-11 (NLT):
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The cradle leads to the cross and the cross leads to the crown. Christmas without the cross is like a jigsaw with the centre missing.
The baby grew up to bear our sins, bridge the gap, and bring us home.
Bethlehem points to the cross, and the cross opens the door to heaven.
Two Invitations This Christmas
First, go deep. This Christmas, don’t just skim the story, sink into it. Reflect on Philippians 2:6-11. Let its truth humble you, move you and fill you with wonder.
Second, go personal. Make it more than a story you hear, make it a truth you live. Ask yourself: has heaven come down in me?
A Christmas Prayer
Lord Jesus, this Christmas, quiet my heart amid the noise and the rush. Help me to look beyond the lights and the lists to see the Light of the world who stepped into our darkness.
Thank you for leaving heaven to find us, for trading majesty for a manger, for laying aside your crown to wear our humanity.
You came not to be distant, but to draw near. Not to condemn, but to forgive.
Come again, Lord Jesus, not just to the world but to me. Be born anew in my life and heart this Christmas. Fill me with your peace, your presence and your purpose. Amen.
Grace and peace,
J.John
