The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
As I reflect what it means for the Son to come “from the Father full of grace and truth” I have always been helped by this story told by Pastor Carter.
Overseeing a home for neglected children Pastor Carter was painfully aware that the holidays were difficult for those under his care. They knew they were different from the others in their school but this time of year only highlighted the fact that they didn’t have homes to go to or loving parents to make them feel special.
This night was especially difficult for young Timothy. It seemed that he had crawled under his bed and would not come out for any reason. Not even a toe was showing from beneath the small bed. The pastor really didn’t want to have to deal with the situation as he had a Christmas sermon to complete, but he went to Tim’s room, sat on the bed and began to speak to the young boy through the mattress. He talked about the brightly lighted tree in the church vestibule next door, the wrapped packages, and all the other good things waiting if only he would come out.
There was no answer. So the Pastor Carter dropped to his hands and knees and lifted the bed spread. He was met with two large blue eyes. It would have been no effort to simply pull the little fellow out. But it wasn’t pulling that Timothy needed – it was trust and a sense of deciding things on his own. So crouched on all fours, Pastor Carter launched into the special Christmas menu and the stocking with his name on it filled with wonderful surprises. But he was still met with silence.
At last the pastor got down on his stomach and wriggled beneath the bed beside Timothy. He just lay there with his cheek pressed against the floor for a long time, looking at the child and talking about the story of Christmas. When he ran out of words he just waited beside him.
Finally, the small hand of the boy reached out and clasped the hand of the pastor. But now he was in no hurry. He had his Christmas sermon. Flattened on the floor, he realized that God had done the same thing for us but we would not listen. So God drew closer. He sent His prophets, His kings and judges, His law givers and holy men and women. He spoke with us face to face but we did not listen very well.
So God himself stooped to earth and came in the form of a servant, Jesus Christ. God literally crawled in beside us and He stretched out his hand toward us.
This Christmas, may the wonder of God’s incarnation be a present reality for you and your family. In Him, Pastor Tom.