Just last Sunday as we sat in worship service and as I heard Steve Corp reflect on Christmas and how it all works together for our Christianity, my mind began to drift to what it would have been like that day to actually be there and experience and be part of the setting that night when The Savior of the entire universe was born. There must have been a strange mystical feeling in the air. We are told some things about this in the word, but I cannot imagine what it would had been like to actually experience this as a true to life onlooker. Perhaps being there and knowing that a child was being born in a stable because that was the only place available when the mother of this child's time had come. Imagine being told the the lady delivering this child was giving birth as a virgin, untouched by man. Imagining the response most would have had to that bit of news.
How about being a shepherd in the field just minding your own business looking after a flock of sheep when suddenly a brilliant light appears overhead in front of you and in the middle of this light an angel appears and informs you that a Savior, the Messiah is being born close by. Then all of the sudden you see the angel being joined by a multitude of heavenly beings praising God and speaking of the Glory that God deserves. Suddenly you realize the entire sky is lit up with a tremendous aerial show of angels and all of the sudden you think "Wooo, I'm scared, something strange is happened here! I am going to go see what this is". The angel says, "don't be afraid dude, it's all good! Praise the name of Jesus"!
Later after you have found the birth place and the the baby Jesus wrapped in a blanket, you see camels ( I assume) riding into town with all kinds of precious gifts strapped on for the baby Jesus. You are told the the guys with the camels are very smart and are called wise men! The were smart enough to know that when they saw a single star moving across the sky when all the other stars were still that something phenomenal was happening. "Hey, let's take some gifts and go see where that star is going! Something cool is happening! It must be that divine birth we have been hearing about!"
Years later after all that had taken place that night had pretty much gotten back to normal, you are walking through town and you notice a big crowd of people gathered around a single man. This man has a different look about him, a look of peace a look of confidence and humility. You ask someone, "what is going on"? Someone tells you, "see the man over there, his name is Jesus." He just just healed that woman. She touched his garment and he could feel the power leave his body and it healed her of something she had been sick of for many years and now she is made perfect. They say he has also made blind men see and just other day, he raised a child from the dead. I heard him tell someone he is the son of God. Some people don't believe him but with what I have seen him do and say, I believe him. Who else could do the things he has done. Just the other day, out at the edge of town, I heard him preaching and it was getting late. There were thousands of us. We were all getting hungry but we only had a few fish and some bread. He took that small amount of food and somehow fed the entire group of thousands! We even had a bunch of food left over and we were all stuffed. I am telling you this guy is special. He cares about people, not only about their physical well being, but about their spiritual life! He must be the Son of God!"
All of the sudden you realize that this man is the baby who was born years ago in that stable, attended by angels, shepherds, and those smart guys with the camels and the gifts. You can remember thinking at the time that this kid is someone special! You knew at the time of His birth that this baby would make His mark on mankind. And that, my friend, he has done and keeps doing EVERY single day! And now in modern day, everyday that same man still changes the lives of people who call upon his name. Thanks you Jesus for being in the our lives every day, day after day, and for allowing us to feel your presence with us every day!
All of us at Dowling Family Photos would like to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year and healthy and prosperous 2018!