‘Christ who willed to be conceived
and brought up in Nazareth’
– Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God
Since the fourth century, Christians have spent the Christmas season contemplating the holy mystery of Christ’s birth as a man. As this time returns again, let us not grow apathetic to the awe such an event should inspire in us. Christ, Light of Light and very God of very God, took on flesh–the very flesh he had fashioned from the dust. The Father sent the Son, yet the Son in his Godhead also willed his own birth. How much ought we to adore our God, who himself ordained the circumstances of his earthly birth, life, and death! The Son, who declared the end from the beginning was, as Irenaeus reminds us, ‘born by his own created order which he himself bears.’ It was not only the person of the Father sending the Son, but the whole Trinity willing the eternal Word to become flesh. It was God’s will to save a people for himself and to dwell in their midst, and every particular of Christ’s earthly life was ordained for this holy purpose.
What condescension on the part of God! The Bread of Life come down from heaven to Bethlehem, the house of bread. The one who had created the very bounds of Nazareth dwelt and lived there. He learned to earn his bread by carpentry, the one who could also turn any stone into bread. How wonderful is it that Jesus was a carpenter? Even as carpenters turn wood into furniture for life, so Christ fashioned the wood of the cross into the furnishing of life for many.
What humiliation he chose to endure! From his infancy, Christ was appointed as a lamb for the slaughter, speechless before his accusers. He was meek while we were haughty, choosing to accuse rather than to worship him. So he came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Augustine described this aspect of Christ’s incarnation, ‘He, so great God, equal with the Father, born of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, [was] born lowly, that thereby He might heal the proud.’
‘What multitudes… will rejoice on the anniversary of the Saviour’s Birth,
which we shall soon be celebrating?
But would to God the cause of their joy were the Divine Nativity,
and not rather worldly vanity!’
– Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon II from Sermons on Canticles
Let us rejoice in remembering the Savior’s birth! Indeed, let all people rejoice, for he came to save all nations, and kindreds, and people. Upon how many multitudes did Christ have compassion when he came as a man, being made like us, yet without sin? Christ was moved to compassion and mercy for the multitudes which followed him in his earthly ministry because they were as sheep without a shepherd.
Christ came to shepherd his people, yet so many are still shepherdless and without Christ in the celebrations of this season. Many more look to worldly vanity instead of remembering the event that began the vanquish of vanity. This season, let us make sure we seek to honor Christ and not mere human tradition. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Look to him, all ends of the earth, and be saved! Now is the day of salvation, for unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given. Christmas, the remembrance of the Nativity, is about nothing else than Christ and his coming to save man from his sin. This reality, when grasped, will cause us great rejoicing. Find your joy in Immanuel, the gift of God, who gave himself to us that we might be saved.
