Unto you a SAVIOR is born

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, have you ever wondered: why did God become man? Here are some of the reasons:

The Word became flesh so that God can fully reveal Himself to man: “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us through a Son, whom He made heir of all things and through whom He created the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) Moreover, so that man might know God’s love. We have come to understand how God the Father loves us so much that He sent His only Son to save us from our sins. (John 3:16-17) We have also come to understand the great love that God the Son has for us by becoming one like us in human flesh, and by His suffering and death on the Cross accomplished the redemption of man. (cf. 1John 4:10) In the Gospels, we also saw how much Jesus cared for the poor, the lost and the humble.   

The Word became flesh in order for us to understand God and His ways. Many people pray to God, asking God for things, to do things or to fix problems. Some people think that the way God answers prayers is that He will snap His fingers and the things they ask for would magically appear or happen. After all, didn’t Jesus perform many miracles to cure the sick, cleanse the lepers, make the blind see, the dumb hear and the lame walk? Didn’t Jesus multiply the loaves and fishes, stop the storm and raise the dead? Wouldn’t it be great if God fixed our political, economic and social problems, as well as our family problems by simply snapping His fingers and get it done with?

But wouldn’t that be a narrow way of thinking about God? Imagine a child who cries every time he wants something, and mom or dad would just give it to him to shut him up. Would a good mom or dad do that? If God is good, then why should we expect Him to act that way? Shouldn’t we have a deeper understanding that God, who is a good Father, will give only what is good for us, at the right time and in the right way?

In the Gospels, Jesus worked wonders through man. One example is the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector. After receiving Jesus in his home, Zacchaeus gave half of his possessions to the poor, and re-payed those he had extorted four times over. Jesus showed us more than just miracles; He changed people’s hearts – those who were poor found treasure not in gold or silver, but in the words of Christ; those who were longing for peace found peace not in the world but in their hearts; those who were longing for freedom found emancipation not from worldly oppressors but from the slavery of sin. As we come to behold the baby Jesus in the manger, will we let Him change our hearts as well?