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 NIGHT WILL BE LIGHT (December 15, 2023)
NEVER WAS A WAR (December 08, 2023)
WATCHING OVER US (December 01, 2023)
FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH (November 24, 2023)
ALL ARE GIFTED (November 17, 2023)
BEYOND BIOLOGY (November 10, 2023)
PEACE AMID THE CHAOS (November 03, 2023)
GRACE HAS A FACE (October 27, 2023)
UNEXPECTED (October 20, 2023)
SAYING WHAT’S TRUE (October 13, 2023)
BETTER THAN PLATINUM (Octotber 06, 2023)
THE ONLY HERO STORY (september 29, 2023)
ACCORDING TO OUR NEED (September 22, 2023)
GIFTED AND GRACED (September 15, 2023)
BETTER THAN WE DREAMED (September 08, 2023)
FREELY RECEIVED AND GLADLY GIVEN (September 01.2023)
NEW AND BETTER STORIES (August 25, 2023)
WHEN THERE’S NO FIX (August 18, 2023)
NOTHING TO OFFER (August 11, 2023)
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