“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.” 1 John 1:1
December 1, 2023
Don’t let it happen. We are in the Advent season, a time of remembrance of the wonder of wonders. The Lord Jesus Christ who had enjoyed eternal pre-existence with God the Father came to this planet. A “holiday” season has been created which blissfully stays preoccupied with over the top sentimentalism, gift buying, and talk about the spirit of the season. This is not to be an Ebenezer Scrooge. This is about keeping the main thing the main thing. Jesus did not come into existence once upon a time, but existed from limitless eternity. He has always been a person, and this person stepped into human history. The apostle John is saying that he had the inestimable privilege, along with the other apostles (“we”), of being a witness to the central event of history. Jesus was heard, seen, and touched. He was not a ghost or apparition. He was life incarnate in a person. Mary experienced labor pains, cradled her baby in her arms, changed his diapers, fed him, comforted him when he cried, squeezed his little feet and hands, watched him grow into manhood, and wept at his death. No, this is not the whole story. It is a needed reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ was not like a trip to Disneyland, a fantasy to be forgotten. The “Word of life” was among us. Rejoice, dear Christian, rejoice!
H
“O Source of all good, What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts, thine own dear Son, begotten, not created, my redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute, his self-emptying incomprehensible, his infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp…” The Valley of Vision