Baby Jesus: It's Time to Grow Up!

As we are currently in the season of Advent, looking forward to the celebration of the Saviour's birth, it is only fitting to examine the imagery of the season--a baby Jesus. It is on December 25 that the Western world has decided to set a day aside in rememberance of the Messiah, the Son of God, who took on flesh and humbled Himself to being born of a woman, in a manger, totally dependent on human parents. This imagery comes to us as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is very positive, and on the other hand, it is very negative. Let me elaborate.

Baby Jesus: The Positive

You see, the imagery of baby Jesus brings to mind many positive ideas. The most prominent aspect of this is that it reminds us that the eternal Son of God, the Logos, took on human flesh and humbled Himself to being born as a baby. It reminds us that Jesus, as miraculous and divine as He is, was also at one time a baby; a creature totally dependent on His parents for sustenance and survival. This is good news indeed, for it reminds us that Christ indwelt human flesh and lived through the human experience. His becoming fully man and experiencing our humanity is vital to Him relating to us, thus qualifying Him as the perfect High Priest that we need (see my Major Paper!).

Baby Jesus: The Negative

Of course, there can be extremes adopted in the minds of people when it comes to viewing Jesus as a baby. First of all, it can instill in the minds of people this idea of a weak and frail Jesus. A Jesus who is merely human, and therefore only a "good man." Of course, it must be said that this reasoning is dependent on a lot more than simply the image of baby Jesus, but it certainly does not help to be reminded constantly (and almost singularly) that Jesus was a baby.

The images of Jesus, especially in Roman Catholicism (as is the one used for this blog) almost unanimously depict Jesus in two situations: 1) As a baby in His birth, or 2) as a suffering man in His death (crucifixion). It is for this reason that many Roman Catholics with whom I have interacted often have a very anemic view of Christ. They are so used to seeing Him in these two depictions, that He is either a helpless baby, or a helpless victim. Of course, a proper reading of Scripture will clarify this much more.

Redemption!

We must not retaliate to these negative perceptions by going to the other extreme and discounting the birth, humbling, and humanity of Christ. The birth of Christ is the moment (if we are going to include His conception) where the incarnation is realized. The fullness of redemption shone through when God the Son had finally taken on flesh. The glory of Almighty God, here, in flesh, "tabernacling" with fallen humanity. What a glorious thought... What a glorious moment! When Christ was born, He was also destined to die. That was it, no turning back! Redemption was going to run its full course and He was going to save His people!

It is for this reason that we must glory in the birth of our Saviour. Though, we must remind both ourselves and those around us that Christ is the eternal God, who existed in eternity past as Almighty God, and who exists now as the God-man in full glory and reign. He is no longer a baby, helpless and dependent on His earthly parents, but He has been given the highest place, seated at the right hand of God, where all authority and power has been given to Him! Let us redeem any view of a weak and frail Christ, and let us marvel at the wonder of God contained within the frame of a baby boy. What wonder, what magnificence!