Friday, The Third Week of Advent - A Cosmic Birth of a King

I was listening to a national radio announcer talking about the birth of his daughter.  It was a sweet moment of reflection as he recounted how old she was and what he remembered of that day she had come into the world some years before.

All of us who have had children remember our children’s births.  They are more than dates on a calendar, they are dates etched in our memories and forever change the ordinariness of most calendar dates.

In Advent we celebrate the date of the Incarnation.  Jesus came to live among us, born of a virgin, born of a woman, a human baby yet God.  He set aside his divinity to take on the human flesh that would forever change the relationship between God and Mankind.  Yet what is so different about the birth of Jesus was that it was more than a human birth – it was a Cosmic Birth.  A birth made in the heavenlies.

Let us remember that the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is from Heaven – a plan of old that God would come to the earth to save his people from their sins.

Daniel 7:9 (NIV)
⁹  "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV)
¹³  "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
¹⁴  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

When Jesus stood before Pilate he made that confession:

John 18:33-37 (NIV)
³³  Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews…?"
³⁶  Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world… ³⁷  "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world…”

So what is our response to this all?  Is it simply to acknowledge the truth behind it all and go on our way?  Or is it to recognize that He is our King!

Psalm 47:2, 6-7 (NIV)
²  How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!

⁶  Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷  For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

Paul said it to Timothy – we have an allegiance to CHirst as Lord, as King, that goes way beyond His authority and right to rule.  He is born into this world to save His people from their sins, and that is why he is our King.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NIV)
¹⁵  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
¹⁶  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
¹⁷  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

AMEN!