Pondering: Thoughts on the Wonder of Christmas, #4

 Something amazing happened to me last night. 
I was just outside what I thought was my house, though it was very different than the house I have lived in for two-thirds of my life. A black bear was out in the yard. I don't know why I did this, but I let the bear into the house. Soon I found myself lying on the floor with the bear on top of me. Thankfully the bear seemed content to just lie there. I could feel it's weight and warmth. While lying on me the bear did what animals always do. It relieved itself, thankfully not on me. I heard the water hit the floor. Not long after that the lady of the house--it turns out it wasn't my house after all--approached. I recognized her. She is a woman from the other side of the world, where there are no bears. She simply grabbed the beast by the color--why does a wild bear have a collar?--called it "Queen," led it to the door, and sent it on its way.

Then I woke up.

If any of my readers are interpreters of dreams they should have a blast with this one. :)

Before I went to bed and met the bear, I was involved in another, this time, very real event. Our home church is presenting a public, outdoor event this weekend. It is centered around the marvelous story of Christ as told by the Gospel writer Luke. My part in the program is to portray a carpenter, Jaazaniah (Juh-az-an-i-uh), who now works in the carpenter shop in Nazareth, where Joseph and Jesus once built things that contributed to the lives of their neighbors.

You might make the case that this "Night to Remember" event is just another fantasy, a dream. Well, yes, there is no mention in the New Testament of a carpenter named Jaazaniah. But, it is also true that Luke investigated the story of Christ. He lived at a time when eye-witnesses of the words and acts of Christ were still alive. Reading the book of Acts--watch for the "we" sections--shows that Luke was in the areas where these eyewitnesses would have lived. Read Luke's plan here. If there was a carpenter who worked with Joseph and/or Jesus, Luke would have talked to him if he could.

Could it be that the reason Luke is the only one of the four Gospel writers who reports Jesus' words about the foolishness of starting a building project without counting the cost, goes back to a conversation Luke had with a builder who worked on a project that, to the chagrin of the patron, was never finished. Could it be that someone pointed out a half-finished tower, and told the story of a foolish real estate developer and that story led to Luke's further investigation, which led to an eyewitness who said, "Yeah, Jesus talked about that?

I don't know. I know it could be. I know that because, unlike my cuddly bear, Jesus really lived in the real world. If a real man investigated, he would find out real things that Jesus really did and said. The record is the Gospel of Luke, and the other gospels as well. Pure fantasy has a wonder to it. It can inspire, but how much more full-of-wonder is a story of a remarkable life, who did amazing things, and spoke words so profound that even unbelievers are forced to admit that he was a man of compassion, wisdom, and dedication to his mission--a person worthy of knowing better.

Such a man did live. His name is Jesus. If you read about Him, you will find that He is more than a man. He is God come in human flesh. You can join us for the Night to Remember event tonight or tomorrow. You can read the Book of Luke whenever you want to.

It's a wonder.

Pondering: Thoughts on the Wonder of Christmas #3

 Contemplating the wonder of the Christmas story, the indescribable gift of God's Son (John 3:16 & 2 Corinthians 9:15), is a wonderful exercise all by itself. However, considering a further reality takes the awe-inspiring narrative to a new level.

That reality is that all of us who follow Christ have a mandate to imitate what the Son of God did in His incarnation. Note the highlighted words below in this quotation from Philippians 2.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:1–10)

Just a couple of brief comments:

• Verse 1 gives the basis of this mandate. It is based on these realities that all followers of Christ are privileged to enjoy.
• Verses 2-5 contain the Apostle Paul's command to the Christians in Philippi. There is nothing about the Philippian Christians that makes different than any other follower of Christ, wherever and whenever they life. It is legitimate to apply this command to all of us who follow Christ, today. Note the verbs that define this mandate. This series of commands flows from an attitude, or way of thinking. It is not merely outward, it is from the heart. One way--a big way--our attitudes are changed is through a consideration of the truth. Think of all that Christ has done for us (Romans 12:1-2). An old Gospel chorus sums it up well.
  
         After all He's done for me.
         After all He's done for me. 
        How can I do less,
        Than give Him my best,
        And live for Him completely?
        After all He's done for me.
  Not only does the reasoning make sense. It points to a wonderful privilege
•  The rest of the quotation is a summary of the work of Christ. Note that the first part of this is expressed as actions that Christ willingly took. Theologians call this the kenosis, Christ emptying Himself. The second part of this, Christ's exaltation, is expressed in actions that happened to Christ. These were done by His Father. Jesus' prayer in John 17, on the evening before His crucifixion, shows that Jesus depended on His Father to make this happen. He trusted.

The wonder of Christmas is not only that Christ came--God's gift to bring salvation to all who believe--but also that you and I, as followers of Christ, are privileged to participate in this marvelous, life and world-changing self-sacrifice and ultimate reward.

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas.