"The Nativity", c 1523, by Lorenzo Lotto.
I suspect that the post-modern mind will not find favor with this painting by Lorenzo Lotto. We have so trivialized Christmas that the miracle of God's incarnation is seemingly lost.
I was in my office reading last night, while my wife was watching a Christmas special, and I found myself, in grief, wondering if the contemporary singers had any idea of the wonders behind the text of Christmas carols they were singing.
Jesus Christ did not walk this earth proclaiming his miraculous birth. Albeit, this is a most wondrous thing. Certainly the coming of the Messiah was a long awaited event.
But why did Messiah come? Why did God become man? The answer is also found in this nativity painting.
When Jesus began his ministry, the first words out of his mouth were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells Zacchaeus that, "the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)
I can hear the scoffer now, "Please don't ruin my Christmas with all your talk about Jesus, his death, my sins, and salvation!" To which I simply must reply, "My friend, please consider the whole of Christ's story."
Here is a 1981 recording, of a young Dr. John Piper, "Christmas as the End of History".
Abba,
Thank you for coming to earth, 2000 years ago, and becoming the Lamb of God. Tomorrow I will celebrate your coming to earth, but forever I will praise your name for writing my name in the Lamb's Book of Life. Please let my life be lived in such a manner, that others may see/hear your calling, and so too understand the real meaning of Christmas, and place their saving faith in you.
Your son, David
