by Pastor Doug Cox

I think a fair question to ask every Christian during the Christmas season is “what are you looking for as you celebrate Christmas?” As Mary and Joseph looked at their newborn Son’s face, what did they see? I wonder how much their previous visitations by angels enhanced their imaginations as they communicated in baby talk with their very special child? A very popular Christmas song by Mark Lowry has lyrics that make us wonder about Mary’s inner thoughts. “Mary did you know your baby boy would one day walk on water… cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear… (call Himself the) great I am… (be) heaven’s perfect Lamb?”
 
We don’t know exactly what Mary thought, but the question is what do you think about this whole Christmas celebration thing? Think about this simple yet profound scripture penned by an apostle who knew by experience what it was like to struggle with the idea that faith in Jesus trumps every other religious idea that doesn’t agree. Paul was his name and he writes in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus, “…is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Look at this verse again and think about it before reading on.
 
Notice there is a contrast between what you can see with your eyes and what you can’t. In Mary’s arms was this newborn manchild, with a heart pumping blood, lungs breathing oxygen and a stomach that needed regular filling. These traits and more were evidence of what could be seen. At the same time hidden within the child were the invisible qualities a Savior would need to fulfill His purpose. Here is a short list. Eternal power and a Divine nature. Peace from a different realm and the status of firstborn.
 
So there in the manger Jesus came forth as the firstborn, but not as the first created being, but as the One Who is preeminent over all created beings. Verse 16 says “…by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
 
It was impossible to look at this baby with natural eyes and see that He was the Creator of everything and had now at this moment become one of His creation. He was born to die for the sins of all mankind. John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
 
Now let’s consider Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as His second birth. His victory over death through this ‘second birth’ brings a double meaning to Him being the firstborn over all creation. He is the first born having preeminence over all and the first born from death. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
 
My prayer as we move day by day closer to celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus that we will meditate deeper than ever on this One the Father has given to us to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10