Who is He?

When we consider the meaning of Christmas, we jump (as we should) to Jesus’ birth. Shortly after considering His birth, images from childhood Christmas plays and church nativity scenes fill our minds. We think of wise men, shepherds, sheep, stars, and a manger, and hopefully these images warm our hearts.

But sometimes we stop there. We stop at the images. We know what happens in the story, and similar to childhood memories of Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings, we categorize Christmas as a tale that inspires us, but still something that remains separated from reality. We’re focused on the What, but it doesn’t affect us because we forget about the Who.

Who is this baby Jesus? Let’s look at part of the story:

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…After coming to the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother

Matthew 2:1,11

What did they do when they saw this child? Did they give it baby talk? Did they hold him? Let’s look:

and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.

They worshiped Him! A helpless, probably crying, tiny baby child caused these men to fall on the ground in awe and praise. Who is this baby Jesus?

He is not only a moral teacher. He is not only a prophet. He is Immanuel. God with us. Let us remember this Who. God did not wait for us to come to Him, but freely came to us to rescue us from our sin, failures, rebellion, folly, shame, and hell. Let us join the wise men and fall to the ground and worship Him.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!