The familial warmth and sentiment of Christmas can, ironically, obscure the real reason Christ came: to reveal the holes in our reality. Our world isn’t a natural one, he showed, but an unnatural one, a broken shadow place hidden from the noonday of God’s presence just outside. Jesus came to tear away the veil that separates us from that presence, and let the Light of the world shine through (John 1:5).
“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.” ~C. S. Lewis
I would propose to C.S. that it is instead, the Resurrection.
Not sure I take your meaning, Rob. The resurrection of Jesus, and indeed all of the other miracles associated with him, certainly could not have occurred had he not been born. Or is it the actuality of the Incarnation you’re questioning, rather than its importance?
Praise God, he’s made it possible for us (through the Incarnation of his Son) to experience the fullness of joy in his presence. Yet this side of heaven is just a taste of what’s to come. The euphoria of Christmas (even Easter) will be NOTHING compared to that day!
Always Christmas and never Winter? (To paraphrase Lewis ;>)
Very good point, Mitch! I get a little tired of watching Christmas movies where they insist that the real meaning of the season is either giving, or being with family, etc. Those are nice things, but the reason is the birth of Christ. And he came for the reasons you so eloquently stated!
For sure! Nice share.
Mitch,
The Creator alone can set creation right. Can you imagine how real reality really is?
In Christ,
Gary