Read:

Matthew 13:55-56, “’Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?’”

Think:

In the first moment, as all new parents do, they gazed at the baby in wonder, in fascination. I’m sure Mary and Joseph checked the eyes, ears, fingers, and toes of the One whose coming had been foretold by angels. Here in the starlight was the Messiah. But it was so hard to believe the Messiah was just a baby – not a military commander, not a king.

What they didn’t yet understand was that He was meant to be more. The virgin birth was the sign of His divinity. He was in no way a product of the world. But He was willing to live in this world. He took the full human journey, He faced temptation, He experienced all the sorrows the world holds. And when we see the cruel spikes driven into His hands and feet at Calvary, we know He felt pain as a man.

If He had been God only, His sacrifice wouldn’t have been a sacrifice. And if He had been only a man, His sacrifice would have been powerless. He would have been just a martyr. But He was man and God, and His sacrifice had the power to do what no one else could do. This baby gave His life to free us from sin. And if we will receive this gift, He will be our king.

Act:

Take a moment to reflect. What would your life look like and who would you be without Jesus?

Pray:

Father, thank You for giving the gift of Your Son. Show me any areas where I’m not allowing Him to rule my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.