How many of us see in the Advent story, striking beauty? Beauty is inherent in God and all that God does. We see it everywhere, even in this fallen world, and we are drawn to it, even though it can be impacted negatively by us humans in our sin. And we find beauty in the Story of God in Scripture, messy as that story is, in a fallen world of fallen, sinful humans. From both Matthew and Luke's account of the nativity, to John's words about it- we see a beauty that is of God.
What is beautiful to us? Certainly nature is, or God's good creation. And God's new creation in remaking sinful humanity in Jesus is beautiful as well. We see beauty worked out into the lives of Mary and Joseph, and changing the lives of others for this same kind of beauty, to this day. This beauty we find in and through the baby boy, Jesus. The God-human Jesus.
This beauty in Jesus we together begin to participate in, by faith. It's a beauty that puts "the world" to shame- in all its glitz and glamor. A beauty in which we must live, in Jesus, and persist, so that others along with us can share in it.
But why is this beautiful? Why is the story of Jesus beautiful even to non Christians? What makes this story along with the Story of God we find in all of Scripture beautiful to us who are in Jesus as God's redeemed people? What does it look like before us, and in our own lives?
What do you see as beautiful in this and in relation to Advent?
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8 comments:
well, i think that the love of God in his Son is beautiful. the way God expresses the beauty of who He is...that is beautiful.
good post, brother.
Nancy,
Thanks for your words well spoken. The love of God in his Son. Truly beautiful!
And thanks.
Advent is about ultimate Beauty introduced into a world of corruption
ESI,
Ultimate beauty introduced in Jesus is an important thought, for we believe ultimate beauty is found in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And in Jesus we share in this relational God, in the communion. Of course though we're forever only human, in the God-human Jesus, we begin to share in this beauty now.
Your thought made me speel off onto that. Thanks for your thought here.
I think it is beautiful in that finally man is going to be redeemed back into that intended stated or relationship with God; that he had in the beginning. It is so beatiful but so ugly at the same time as we know as Christians the sin that he would have to pay on our behalf. I know I cherish the beauity of the relationship that I have with Almighy God because of what Christ has done for us. Restoring. Redeeming. That is true beauty.
Great post Ted.
I love the way you apply it so well to our lives, the birth, the cross, and our relationship with God It is beautiful indeed.
comment back on the 10th -
yes, I agree with ESI - ultimate Beauty and Perfection slammed, with a baby's cry, into a dirty world filled with poop, smells and hay. The contrast makes the gift all the more beautiful.
Preacherman,
Thanks again for your encouragement, and above all for your words here on this.
Yes, this beauty is from the manger to the cross, and beyond. And we share in this beauty, and in this new way of being human in this world in Jesus- in the way of the cross, the way of death and resurrection- yes, now.
Halfmom Susan,
Yes. God certainly did more than get his hands dirty for us.
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