It’s the most frequently portrayed scene in all of human history.
Four-year olds sketch out the wise men, sheep, and cattle. Sculptors craft three human figures beneath a simple roof, and we fill in the rest. Churches erect elaborate crèches, some with anxious animals, some with freezing actors. Billions of gilded Christmas cards imagine this one moment in its gentle innocence.
Why does the story of a humble birth 2000 years ago transfix a weary world? Because it is supremely a story of hope, of resistance, of pushing back against the dreadful narrative of death and power and pain. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it” (John 1:4-5).
Jesus entered this life we live by the low road, though He owns all roads that ever were. He was worshipped—yes, adored—by midnight shepherds stained with mud—men ignored by all the proud and powerful, though He is rightfully worshipped by archangels, universal praise, and choirs. “God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important” (1Cor 1:28).
Jesus always gives Himself to those brought low by circumstance or grief—the poor, the poorly treated, the poor in spirit—the folks who cannot turn the world their way. Beginning from the bottom, He lifts all of us toward heaven.
Embrace this Child. Your hope and joy will also rise.
And you will stay in grace. -Bill Knott
THE LIFE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED (June 24, 2022)
THE LEDGER OF YOUR LIFE (June 17, 2022)
A HYMN TO GRACE (June 10, 2022)
IN QUIETNESS AND GRACE (June 03, 2022)
FEELING GUILTY, LEARNING GRACE (May 27, 2022)
WHY GRACE ENDURES (May 20, 2022)
BETTER THAN WE KNOW (May 13, 2022)
GRACE AND CHANGE (May 06, 2022)
GRACE AND LIGHT (April 29, 2022)
THE FOLLOWING WEEK (April 22, 2022)
CONSIDERING THE LILIES (April 15, 2022)
GROWING WEALTH (April 08, 2022)
HERO TO THE RESCUE (April 01, 2022)
AUDACIOUS GRACE (March 25, 2022)
THE JOY TO JOURNEY ON (March 18, 2022)
GOOD AND GRACIOUS (March 11, 2022)
BETTER THAN WINNING (March 04, 2022)
GOING OVERBOARD (February 25, 2022)
THE NEWS WE NEED (February 18, 2022)
LOVE BEYOND OUR LIMITS (February 11, 2022)
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