JESUS IS MUCH MORE THAN A BABE IN A MANGER

God’s Word gives us an endless list of His attributes and personality. Here are a few for your meditation and further study.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES             by Sally Bair

More than a babe

What is Christmas without the songs and pictures of Jesus as a baby lying in a manger? The sight of Him as a baby brings a smile. Yet there is much more to Jesus than His birth.           

A Bible reference such as a concordance will show that both Old and New Testaments refer to Jesus as having a part in the creation of the world, and as being our Savior and Deliverer, a Banner for the people, and the Author of life. He is the King of kings, Lord of lords, and the First and Last. Jesus is Lord of the harvest, of the Sabbath, and of peace. Handel’s famous oratorio, The Messiah, taken from the book of Isaiah, tells us Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, and Almighty God.

In the Gospel accounts, Jesus referred to himself as the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way and Truth and Life, and the True Vine. The Bible is filled with dozens of other names which describe the different aspects of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man.

Indeed, there’s much more to Jesus than a babe in a manger. The book of Revelation gives us this description: “…in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass…and His voice as the sound of many waters…out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Rev. 1:13-16)

The implications of the revelation of John the Apostle are that Jesus was, is, and will be eternally pure and righteous, and will judge everything that is impure. How different these descriptions are from the one of Jesus as a babe in a manger. Perhaps the world and many churches have managed to emphasize this milder aspect of Him at the expense of forgetting the other, more authoritarian one. Knowing Jesus means getting to know every aspect of His personality. Such “knowing” means spending time with Him through His Word and prayer so we see Him as much more than a babe in a manger.

Lord, thank You for being everything we need. Reveal to us the true nature of Your holy being. In Jesus’ name, amen.