More than just a child?

posted in: Andy Blogs | 0

In the next minute, from you starting to read this; between 225 and 255 children will be born around the world. The amount varies a bit according to different estimates. Yet whatever the actual figure, that is a lot of new faces, names, personalities – each one a unique individual with value. No one is ever just a statistic!

New life is a precious gift.

Yet in this Christmas season, what is all the fuss about a boy born in a manger centuries ago? Is he just one part of a ‘nice’ story which adds into some fuzzy sense of warmth for a few days in December? Does he have any bearing on real life?

More than just a child?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Such are the words we can read in an ancient prophecy concerning this child who would be born.

Those are quite some titles (you can check the words out by reading Isaiah 9:6)

How do you respond to such a passage? In relation to your own life, as well as what you see in the news?

Jesus did not come to create cute cards at Christmas time. Nor do He come so children could have seasonal plays to perform for doting parents (not that there is anything wrong with nativity plays as such – even if the actual history is squeezed into one event with shepherds and wise men present at once!)

Jesus was more than just a child when he was born. Jesus now is more than just someone who once lived.

It is recorded that on one occasion as an adult that he asked his followers, ‘who do people say that I am?’ The reply was that in popular opinion that people saw Jesus as one of the prophets from old who had come again. When he then asked his disciples what they thought, Peter replies, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16)

More than just a child! Or is he? What is your response to Christ’s question, ‘who do people say that I am?’ Your response to that will really shape how truly meaningful the Christmas story is.

I suggest that is worth thinking about this Christmas whether you have been a Christian for many years or would not count yourself to be a Christ follower yet.

More than just a child – who do you and I say that Jesus is?

Andy