READ: ISAIAH 9:6-7; 53:3-12; MATTHEW 1:21-23; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

Every Christmas, when I read about the coming of Christ, I linger over the beautiful, contrasting descriptions of how Jesus draws near to us, even though He is holy. It’s truly a profound mystery—for Jesus IS a paradox. These contrasts led me to write today’s poem (which is also a song for me personally) because at Christmas, we celebrate history’s most incredible contrast: God Himself being born, fully human, as a sacrificial Savior—while also ruling the universe as highest Lord and King. I hope meditating on these paradoxes in Scripture will help us see how God may sometimes draw us near in unexpected ways to help us experience true fullness of joy, perhaps in losing our life to save it (John 15:11; Luke 9:24).

Holy Child, the Prince of Peace,
O promised Savior King!
Come to fill our hearts with joy—
O Man of Suffering!

Mighty God, a virgin’s child,
Maker of stars who cried;
Creation groaned to see it so—
Yet Christ was glorified!

Slain for the world He fashioned,
God’s holy arm laid bare;
Come to free us from the curse—
To conquer dark despair!

Jesus Christ, begotten Son,
Risen that we might be…
Freed from sorrow, sin, and grave—
Made new eternally!

Come now, come see,
on bended knee—
Rejoice, O earth and sing!
Our guilt and shame He cast away—
Hail Jesus, Savior King! • G. Kam Congleton

• Jesus is fully God, and He is also fully human—what a paradox! Those two statements seem to contradict, but both are equally true. Which of the paradoxes about Jesus from today’s poem catches your attention?

• What questions do you have about paradoxes in the Bible? Who are trusted Christians you could talk to about this?

• If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 2:1-2; Romans 8:22-23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 13:8; 21:1-5; 22:1-5

The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:10 (NIV)