December 12, 2015
Regular Baby in a Blankie
Luke 2:10-12
But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
The shepherds are told the Messiah has just been born. But he’s not going to look any different than any other baby. They were told they would find the baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth because that is how everyone would find any newborn baby – swaddled in a blankie. Jesus, God’s Son, came into the world like everyone does. He wasn’t covered in jewels or beams of light. Just a regular baby in his momma’s arms.
If Jesus were born in modern times, he would have been found swaddled in a white receiving blanket with blue and pink stripes on it and a baby cap on his head. He was born like a regular baby and lived as a regular man.
In fact, he would live his whole life as a regular guy for this reason:
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-15)
In reality, he could at any time have done this:
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:53-54)
Believers are regular people who want to be like Jesus, who was not a regular person but lived like one. And Jesus did not demand his legitimate entitlements. Conversely, I am not entitled to anything, but I sure to think I am when life doesn’t go my way. That’s why I need the same attitude as Jesus – he gave up privileges he actually had for ME! I need to give up the entitlements I don’t actually have in order to be like HIM. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Dear God,
Thank you for your Son, born as a regular person and stayed that way for me even though he didn’t have to. Help me to deny myself, to prefer others, to give up what I think I deserve because he actually did for me so that I could have a relationship with you forever. Thank you so much. My heart is filled with so much joy when I think of what Jesus has done for me, and it is in his name I pray, amen.
Regular Baby in a Blankie
Luke 2:10-12
But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
The shepherds are told the Messiah has just been born. But he’s not going to look any different than any other baby. They were told they would find the baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth because that is how everyone would find any newborn baby – swaddled in a blankie. Jesus, God’s Son, came into the world like everyone does. He wasn’t covered in jewels or beams of light. Just a regular baby in his momma’s arms.
If Jesus were born in modern times, he would have been found swaddled in a white receiving blanket with blue and pink stripes on it and a baby cap on his head. He was born like a regular baby and lived as a regular man.
In fact, he would live his whole life as a regular guy for this reason:
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-15)
In reality, he could at any time have done this:
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:53-54)
Believers are regular people who want to be like Jesus, who was not a regular person but lived like one. And Jesus did not demand his legitimate entitlements. Conversely, I am not entitled to anything, but I sure to think I am when life doesn’t go my way. That’s why I need the same attitude as Jesus – he gave up privileges he actually had for ME! I need to give up the entitlements I don’t actually have in order to be like HIM. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Dear God,
Thank you for your Son, born as a regular person and stayed that way for me even though he didn’t have to. Help me to deny myself, to prefer others, to give up what I think I deserve because he actually did for me so that I could have a relationship with you forever. Thank you so much. My heart is filled with so much joy when I think of what Jesus has done for me, and it is in his name I pray, amen.
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