Marvelous Mystery

Who is more wonderful than Jesus Christ? 

What is more marvelous than God Himself coming to earth? 

He exceeded all expectations. He completely changed the world. His coming marked a new kingdom, a new life, a new future. Those who saw Him marveled. Confused religious leaders struggled to defend themselves. His own followers wondered at His life and words. Even His mother, Mary, pondered questions in her heart.

 Things didn’t make sense.

 Fragments floated around. 

This did not look like anything they had expected when they envisioned a Messiah.

He spoke the world and all of heaven into existence, and yet He arrived as a helpless baby.

He created Mary, yet she gave birth to Him.

“Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I Am?”

Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowry

He was born a King, yet it was humble shepherds who found Him in a barn on the outskirts of a tiny town in the country.

He reigned from a heavenly throne, yet He lived in poverty without a permanent place to stay.

He was perfect, yet He battled with temptations.

Christ came to bring justice and peace, yet He waited thirty years before He began ministry.

He began ministry, not war. He didn’t muster soldiers to fight. He didn’t live in earthly royalty, power, or fame.

He could have. 

Instead, he sought out the lonely, forgotten, outcast, and needy people in unexpected and overlooked places. He chose disciples from common and imperfect circles. Most of them weren’t the highly educated, best trained, or well respected citizens.

Christ came to deliver captives, yet He was bound and beaten.

He was the Healer, yet He suffered agony in body and spirit.

He was Justice, yet He bore unjust punishment.

He came to save sinners, yet He was crucified as the worst criminal.

He was Life, yet He died.

He was God, and yet He was human.

“The wonder of wonders, oh how could it be?
That God became flesh and was given for me?
The Almighty came down and walked among men.
Oh, the wonder of wonders, He died for my sin!”

The Wonder of Wonders by Charles B. Wycuff

Some believed and chose to follow Him before they understood it all. But His mystery troubled others to the extent that they tried to get rid of Him. They tried everything, even death. 

But no one can get rid of Christ.

They can claim disbelief. They can ignore Him. They can attempt to erase Him from their lives, from the world, and from history. They can try to wipe out any traces of Him by changing B.C. to B.C.E., blurring Creation with evolution, replacing Christmas with Xmas, and revolving the holiday around Santa instead of Jesus. They can nail Christ to a cross and bury Him in a sealed and guarded tomb. 

But no one can get rid of Christ because He is Life itself. He is History. He who is the Resurrection cannot be destroyed by death. He is all that ever was and is and will be. Jesus wasn’t just a baby in a manger. He wasn’t just a teacher, a healer, or a prophet. He was God then and He is still God today.

Christmas is far, far more than just a story, tradition, or holiday. If all the stuffing, wreaths, trees, lights, cards, wrapping paper, carols, and family gatherings were removed, I would still celebrate. I’d celebrate even if the name and date of the holiday were erased from the calendar. 

If one believes in Christ as the marvelous Saviour, nothing else is needed to celebrate.

It’s about the cross.
It’s about my sin.
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again.
It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday.
It’s about the cross!

It’s About the Cross by JamIE Statema

This Christmas season, I grappled with the glorious depth of God coming to earth more than ever. I too, ponder, because I am one of the imperfect humans who cannot fully understand the mysterious, marvelous, and wonderful ways of God.

 May all of us ponder the mystery, believe in Christ for who He truly is, and celebrate Him all our lives.

“Be born in us, oh Holy Child, and let the light of your love shine within our lives!”

Be Born in Us by David s. Gaines/Ruth Elaine Schram