“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:1-11).

There is something about these beloved words that brings us so much comfort. We need look no further than this story of the birth of Jesus to wonder and marvel at the tenderness, gentleness and humanity of Christ in his incarnation. If anyone ever deserved to be welcomed with great acclaim at their arrival, it was Jesus Christ. Yet in the wisdom of the plan of God, his Son Jesus came to earth in the meekest way possible—born as a weak, helpless human baby. No fanfare. No displays of power. No reception by the world leaders. The All-Powerful Son of God, the Word through Whom the world and everything in it was made, took on human nature and began his life on earth just like one of us. What a beautiful picture that reminds us that Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45)! He did not hold us at arms length, immune from the weaknesses we experience. He took on human nature and lived his life as a man, experiencing the limitations and temptations common to our human experience. He had all power and all authority, but he humbled himself and became a servant of all. The Christmas story is not just a cute story about a barn and animals gathered around a baby boy. It is one of the most dramatic pictures of the lengths to which God went to rescue us. The Christmas story is the picture of our great and powerful God who humbled himself and took on human nature in order to live a perfect life and be the perfect sacrifice for us on the cross. He is our Savior, he is Christ the Lord.