The Mission: Code Name, CHRISTMAS

I think the image of Christmas we often have is one of Christmas trees, ribbon-topped presents, a fat old man in a red and white outfit, bright lights, and last minute performance practice. We think of a little baby in a bed of hay, surrounded by mules and pigs, by a young couple, by three men with gifts, and young shepherd boys.

This year, though, I wondered what the Christmas scene was like from heaven's point of view. I imagined all the angels would be really excited and anxious. Their Lord, their God is going to earth! After all this time, from since the beginning of time, it's almost as if all history was waiting for this moment. If history was a movie, this moment would be when the hero finally comes onto the scene. This is Batman putting on his mask, checking his belt of cool gadgets, and jumping into his Batmobile. This is Neo just as he gets unhooked from the Matrix and starting his journey to become the One. This is... well this is epic. More epic than any of those movies put together.

God, infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, looks down at the world and sees a people who need to be saved. He knows He needs to do something, but before, the time wasn't right. So God waits, the angels wait, wait for the right moment. All the while, people are sinning, are falling, are crying, waiting for something, someone to come to save them. Finally, God sees Mary and Joseph, and He looks at the world. The angels wait in baited breaths. God speaks in a quiet yet firm voice. "It is time." It is not loud and booming, for He knows the great sacrifice that will be made now, but the words still echo throughout heaven. I imagined at that time, there was a great silence and then suddenly a great flurry of whispers. "Now? Now's the time?" and then, all the angels burst out into song. "It is time! Time for the redemption of men to begin!" And all the while, God sits silently on His throne, determined yet saddened for what is to come. I imagine Jesus now, telling His Father, "Father, I am You, I am Yours, Your Servant. Send Me. I am ready."

And so, little baby Jesus was born into the world. This is when I think of the lyrics to this song, called "I Celebrate the Day." One of the lyrics says, "And the first time, That You opened Your eyes, did You realize that You would be my Savior. And the first breath that left Your lips, Did You know that it would change this world forever?"

This is the Christmas story.
It's not just a tie to get presents and toys, not just a time to eat good food, not just a simple story of a baby's birth. This is a story of the epic proportions. Jesus stepped into this world. He, timeless, stepped into time. He, boundless, became bound. He, all-powerful, born as a powerless baby. All for what?

To save the world from itself.

To save us.

To save you.

Wow, what an amazing story this is.