Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
Philippians 2:6-7a, NLT*
No wonder the angels’ announcement split the sky, and the shepherds cowered in fear.
The angels knew what was going on, at least this part of the story. They’d known at least since Gabriel had delivered news to the priest Zechariah that Elizabeth would conceive John the Baptist. They may have known longer.
Among the humans, only Mary and Joseph knew, and Elizabeth and Zechariah.
This huge, astounding, mind-breaking secret: God Himself became an embryo and was born a baby who was fully God and fully human. And somehow still remained God the Father, ruling the universe.
The angels knew. Can you imagine the sheer jubilation of their announcement?
Today, we know. May we take some time to ponder this news that’s more than human minds can grasp. May the Holy Spirit reveal its truth to the depths of our beings.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, what can we say but “thank You”? What can we do but worship You? Please let the magnitude of the Incarnation change us, for Your glory.
∞
Here’s Austin Stone Worship’s A Day of Glory.
*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Beyond anything we can begin to fathom…and then there’s “Christ in us”…
Thank you, Janet.
Amen, Mary! Christ in us — way beyond what we can comprehend.