{"id":5385,"date":"2014-12-20T18:10:11","date_gmt":"2014-12-21T00:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=5385"},"modified":"2014-12-20T18:10:11","modified_gmt":"2014-12-21T00:10:11","slug":"the-great-mystery-of-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2014\/12\/the-great-mystery-of-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Mystery of Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christian doctrine is not easy thinking stuff. In his article, “Christmas Is the Greatest Mystery<\/a>,” posted at Desiring God, David Mathis reflects on the meaning of the incarnation. Here’s how he begins his article:<\/p>\n

It is the hour that split history in half.<\/p>\n

Until that first Christmas, he had been, from eternity past, the divine Son and second person of the Godhead. He was God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glad agent in creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2), and from the beginning of time, he had upheld the universe at every moment (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3).<\/p>\n

But then came the great change \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the blessed addition \u00e2\u20ac\u201d at the very heart of reality. The Word became flesh (John 1:14). God became man. The Creator himself came as a creature, the Author entered into his Story as a character. Without abandoning any of what it means to be God, he took on all that it means to be human.<\/p>\n

This spectacular truth, at the center of what we celebrate at Christmas, we call \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the incarnation,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which means the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153in-fleshing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of the divine Son \u00e2\u20ac\u201d God himself taking human flesh and blood and all our humanness. Christmas is when he adds humanity to his divinity, and does so that he might rescue us from our soul-destroying rebellion, and lavish us with the everlasting enjoyment for which we were made.<\/p>\n

It is a glorious revelation, and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also a great mystery.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here<\/a> to continue reading.<\/p>\n

Then, pick up a book or two at Amazon (links below) or at the Book Nook to reflect more on the coming of God’s Son, in order to magnify him more in your heart. Here are some suggestions for adults and for kids:<\/p>\n