Advent at Ararat - Day 12: He came down so that we can go up.

“So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Because we have only our imagination, along with whatever depictions we have seen of the birth of Christ, we might suppose a much more surreal or dramatic scene than was that of His actual birth.

The fact is, our Lord—God made flesh—was born in a stable among animals and whatever “accoutrement” accompanied them. The sights and smells were probably pretty much what you would imagine.

Bear in mind, Mary was a very young woman, giving birth to her first child, after having traveled a long arduous journey. Imagine how tired she must’ve been. As well, her mind must’ve been a whirl with all the firsts and unknowns she was suddenly thrust into.

Miraculously, as common as this scene probably was, as fragile as a little virgin and her weary groom seemed to be, the God of the universe was entering time in a flesh vehicle through the matrix of a young virgin girl. And, because of this one event experienced in obscurity, the created order was on the nexus between The Fall and redemption.

Bear in mind, accompanying the birth of our Lord was no team of heavenly servants sent to make sure Jesus was cared for properly.

Amazingly, the Lord completely committed Himself into flesh where He would be subject to the care of His earthly parents. He could and would feel pain. He could and would be abused. He could and would die a horrible death.

The act of He through Whom all things were made, the Word of God, condescending into the form of mortal man, is honestly beyond my comprehension. But how thankful and grateful I am that He did just that.

For today meditate on what it means that the King of Glory humbled Himself to become one of us, so that we might be exalted to a heavenly position with Him.

Additionally, consider how we should be willing to humble ourselves, given the humiliation the Lord endured for us all!

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yes, the time had come when all the prophetic predictions concerning the Messiah’s coming, would find their mate in a little town called Bethlehem.

Indeed, He came down so that we can go up; and soon and very soon, we will do just that! Do you believe?

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#adventatararat2023