The Image of Christ

     The baby Jesus in the manger scene is the most familiar image in the Christmas story. There He is; a baby in human form. We watch a live nativity scene at our churches on Christmas Day. We say, “Isn’t he cute?” We can picture Jesus growing up with His family, walking the streets of Galilee with His disciples, stopping to show compassion, to perform a quick miracle. He is our friend. He loves us. We see the man in a flowing robe, teaching, serving, His sandals filled with the dust of the desert.

     Over the last two weeks, we have focused on the baby. This baby is something special. He is recognized by the shepherds, by the Magi, by John the Baptist and his mother even before the birth, and by Anna and Simeon at the temple dedication. This child of God. This Son of God. Yes, this baby would grow into a man. Fully human.

And fully God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:1-4

     Jesus was there in the beginning. The Bible? Jesus is the Word. It’s all about Him from beginning to end. He IS the beginning and the end. All things were made through Him.

For in Him all things were created. Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.  Colossians 1:16

     We will stretch our thinking beyond the manger this week, to see beyond the human image of Christ, the most familiar to us. We have not seen the heavenly Jesus face-to-face. We have seen the humble servant, the washing-of-the-feet Jesus, the suffering Lamb Jesus, the walking-talking resurrected Jesus. He will come back as the King, the ruler of heaven and earth, the judge, the Lion of Judah. He is the Christ.

Dear Father in heaven,

We thank You for sending Your One and Only Son to dwell among us. The Word of God came in the flesh as a baby and grew to be a man. He served us, suffered for us, died for us. He was and is and is still to come to rule the heavens and the earth.

In Jesus name,

Amen