Can the vast expanse of the deep oceans be contained in a pitcher? Equally unfathomable is an attempt to fence in the infinite universe even within the confines of ones imagination. Far greater still is the fact that God - omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent should choose to limit himself to the form of a hapless babe. As clichéd as this image might be, it doesn’t lose its potency in summoning to our weak and oft forgetful minds what God did for us in that “bleak mid-winter”.
In the incarnation of the Christ, God dispensed His purple robe for swaddling clothes, and his royal sandals for dusty shoes that walked every conceivable human predicament. (In Christ we do have a high priest who sympathizes with our weakness and woes because He was indeed subject to it - and I must add - yet without sinning (Heb. 4:15)). He laid down his glittering coronet of glory for the bitterness of the painful crown of thorns.
Arguably, almost every poem, every song, every painting, every drama has for its theme love; But there is no greater love than the love of God which did indeed stoop to the very depths of squalor. Not just to identify with us but also to woo us and save us from perdition.
There is a story I heard that illustrates what God did for us; there once lived a king with all the trappings of one such king – powerful, handsome, and bestowed with an abundance not only of wealth but also intellect. He fell in love with a pretty damsel of lowly birth. His periodic tour of duty around the kingdom became more frequent, in anticipation of seeing this poor, deprived girl who had so smitten him He spent many an agonizing night re-living her response to him; for he was the king and protocol required of every subject to suspend their every effort of labor and bow in obeisance to him. He longed for her love and he knew while he is king she can offer him only reverential fear. If he asked for her hand in marriage, she would definitely give her consent but will that decision be made in love, the king would never know. After much deliberation the king left the portals of the palace, but not with the usual festivity and fanfare because he was dressed like a commoner – the ones who worked the fields. He was disguised beyond recognition. There was no way of anyone finding out that he was indeed their sovereign. It must have felt strange for the king not to have the guards at the gate salute him, but that was of little consequence to the king who had but one goal – win over this commoner of the fields with whom he had fallen in love. This time around when he saw the girl she didn’t cower in his presence; she even coyly smiled at this stranger. As days progressed there were times when she would even playfully chide him. After a certain passage of time the king-turned-farmer knew that he had to return to the palace, for the days of absence allowed to the king were drawing to a close. He had to ask this girl whom he loved if she would give him her heart. If she did he would know without a doubt that she agreed in love and not fear. One afternoon in a not-so-chance-meeting with the girl, he makes known to her his love and asks her, “Will you love me? Will you marry me? And she answered, ...
There is no way of a universal and appropriate ending for that story because each one has to script the ending in accordance with his/her response to the King, even Christ the Lord.
It is a simplistic comparison but it does encompass in a meager way the magnitude of the coming of God into this world. It is a universal yet personal experience that we celebrate at Christmas.
Have you any room for Jesus;
He who bore your load of sin?
As he knocks and asks admission,
Sinner won’t you let him in.
Room for Jesus King of glory;
Hasten now his word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid him enter while you may.
(Author unknown)
It is indeed a fitting culmination to the story of Christmas. "He laid aside His majesty" because he loved and loves us with an everlasting love; in order to save us. Hope we will answer, “You have my heart.”
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Title adapted from Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer
2 comments:
very good simili used here.. anna and akka! yes i hav heard that anna plays the keys very well from suthan maamaa.. and my sister told me that esther ka writes pretty great stuff.. that is a lethal combo indeed...
do add some of your songs too...
btw the song" have you any room for jesus " was written by Daniel Whittle.. somebody else composed the music for it
Thanks for the comments and for the song writer's name. All the hymnals we have said that the Author is unknown. Preetha told us that you are in Singapore; Hope you are having a good time. Happy New year and may God bless you.
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