Our first Advent activity this year was simple. The kids and I sat at the dining room table, and I asked them whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas. When they responded “Jesus’ birthday”, we talked about how it’s easy to get caught up in all the fun stuff we enjoy about the Christmas season. But the purpose of Advent, I explained to them, is to remember Jesus’ coming. That’s why each day this month, we will do an activity designed to illustrate some aspect of the Christmas story—in other words, some aspect of Jesus’ birth.
Next, we sang the song, “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” I sang it for them first. Ellie knew part of it, and Kenny and Lindsey began catching on quickly. We would learn the song this year, I told them, because it helps to remind us that Christmas is all about Jesus.
Later that evening, I heard Lindsey doing her best to sing the song, in her sweet, three-year-old voice. One line of the song says, “I’m so glad it’s Christmas.” But Lindsey sang it, “I’m so glad you’re with us.”
“No, Lindsey, it’s not ‘I’m so glad you’re with us’,” I heard Ellie say, in all her six-year-old wisdom. “It’s, ‘I’m so glad it’s Christmas’.”
“I’m so glad you’re with us,” Lindsey sang.
I think she has it right.
Two thousand-plus years ago, a baby was born in a stable. There were probably other babies born that day, and certainly, that year. But this baby was special. This baby was not only the son of Mary and Joseph. This baby was the Son of God.
That day, God Himself came down from heaven in the form of a squalling, wrinkly infant, into a stable filled with animals, straw, and stench.
God wasn’t just up there anymore. He was down here.
Yes, God the Son humbled Himself enough to become one of us, at least physically. He Who had made the world now had to have His diaper changed. He Who had existed since before time began now dwelled in time and needed to eat every two hours.
Because of our sin, God would have been completely justified in remaining on His throne and allowing us all to go to hell as we deserved. But He didn’t. He got down from His throne and came to us to show us the way back to Him.
God with us.
The best part of the whole story is that He is still here. If we love Him, His Spirit indwells our hearts.
Now, He’s not only God with us, as if that weren’t far more than we deserve.
Now, He’s God in us.
This Christmas, in the middle of everything else you have to do, take time to stop and remember. Remember that God came to dwell with us, and that now He dwells in us.
Then praise Him for the incredible love, mercy, and kindness He has shown to us.
Remember that He’s not God up there. He’s God down here, and with us, and in us.
Jesus, we’re so glad you’re with us.
Matthew 1:23—The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, “God with us.”