Advent, Seeing His Glory

Manger scenes abound during the advent season. They are pictorial reminders of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the earth, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14). These scenes depicted by artists on a print or in forms sculpted, carved or molded show forth the privilege given to a select few who drew near him at his appearing. They depict the lowly shepherds who have been called from their watch to look upon their Savior. They allow us to see sheep and cattle gathered around their Creator and the one who would make all things new. Through them we gather around a father and mother who would see the King of Kings and Prince of peace as they hold him in their arms. In the midst of these scenes is the evident humility of the Lord of glory becoming man so that he may become the blessedness of those who in humility receive him by faith as he has revealed himself as the Word made flesh. The manger scene is an artist rendering of a historical and theological reality of how blessed those are who receive this same Savior and Lord as revealed in his Word.

Jonathan Edwards said, “Tis more blessed to be spiritually related to Jesus Christ – to be his disciples, his brethren and the members – than to stand in the nearest temporal relation, than to be his brother or his mother.” What the manger scene cannot depict is the spiritual reality that it is possible to stand in relation to Jesus but not be in his joy.

When I was a child my mother would decorate our home at Christmas. One central piece of my mothers decorating was a manger scene. It was not a beautiful piece of art but it was detailed as it painted a picture in my mind of an historic reality. As a child I would stand by and look at it. As I looked I stood over a Bible that my mother placed before it each year opened to the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke. I stood in relation to the historic theological reality of Jesus but I was not in his joy. For I did not believe in him as the one sent by the Father as the light of the world (Jn.8:12), nor did I come to him as the bread sent down from heaven to satisfy my hunger and thirst (Jn.6:35). I was one like a bystander at his coming who stood in relation to the reality of revealed glory and could only see a blue background, fake stars, angels hanging from strings, plastic figurines of people and animals, and pages with black and white words. So I sought joy in other shadows of the reality like getting gifts, giving gifts and relationships.

Jonathan Edwards said, “Tis a greater blessedness to have spiritual communion with God and to have a saving intercourse with him by the instances of his Spirit and by the exercise of true devotion than it is to converse with God externally, to see the visible representation and manifestations of his presence and glory, and to hear his voice with the bodily ears as Moses did. For in this spiritual intercourse the soul is nigh unto and hath more a particular portion than in any external intercourse.”

Looking on the manger man cannot see, but when the Spirit lifts out the words of Scripture illuminating the mind and heart then sight of the glory of Christ lights upon his life and is put into his heart that obedience of faith that makes him a joy filled disciple walking after his ways. If we can see the blessed mother of Jesus magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior as she carries in her womb the revealed Lord of glory (Lk.1:46-55), then how much more joy is there for those who see his beauty with their minds and hearts and walk after him in his revealed will through the Scripture? In the manger we see a historical and theological reality. But when the Christ of the manger is lifted up by the Holy Spirit as a glorious Savior and Lord and our hearts are illumined by his beauty and excellencies through his Word he becomes our joy and walking in obedience to his will for his glory and others good becomes our joy. May the joy of the Lord be your strength as you await his coming again.