More than a baby
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” –Revelation 5:5 (NIV)
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” ―C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
It is amazing that Jesus not only took on flesh (John 1:14), but embraced the entire human experience by starting as a fetus in the womb of the teenaged Mary. All of heaven awaited His debut! To a humble family, in a humble location, under humble circumstances. To humble first witnesses, the arrival was announced with much fanfare….
That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified!
But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah.”
Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing: “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.” –Luke 2:8-11, 13-14 (TPT)
Wow! Talk about shaking up the status quo! The shepherds looked around at one another as if to ask, “Did I just see what I think I saw?!?” And off they went.
When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” So they ran into the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough.
The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said. –Luke 2:15-16, 20 (TPT)
As soon as they left, the shepherds began spreading the word (Luke 2:17). They knew they had seen more than a baby. This baby was the King of kings. More than a sweet story, He would be, and still is, the conqueror of mankind’s two great nemeses – sin and death. Powerful, yet humble. The Lion and The Lamb. Oh come let us adore Him!
“Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."...
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” ―C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13 (NIV)