Monday, December 14, 2009
Isaiah 7:14 ... the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
MARVEL NOW, O HEAV'N AND EARTH
It's the third week of Advent. Too long to prepare for Christmas? Actually, not long enough. God Himself hints at this by issuing the above birth announcement centuries in advance.
The birth of the Christ, the world's Redeemer, is a miracle of such proportions that eternity will be too short to grasp it with the human mind. But that doesn't mean we cannot contemplate it with worshipful wonder as once again we come to Christmas. Indeed, we cannot do otherwise if we recognize the purpose of His coming--and take it personally.
Luther says that the entire world might well stand in wonder that God the Son chose to enter human history in such a manner. But Luther, and Isaiah before him, do not appear to be marveling at the fact that God chooses to be born of a virgin. That's a miracle of creation. The greater miracle of mercy, love and grace that is Christmas is that the holy Son of God would be born into our sinful human family at all. God does this--becomes one of us!--in order to redeem us from sin and death, but still that He should choose such a path to do this--What a wonder!
The God of all creation chooses to become Immanuel, "God with us," not just for a time but for eternity. No matter what your national or ethnic origin, the Lord of all has become part of your history so that, through His own gift of faith you may be restored to His own family.
Savior of the nations, come, Virgin's Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 95:1, Martin Luther)
