After Christmas

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
 (Luke 2:52)

Jesus was man but He was also God. He was as much man as He was God and He was as much God as He was man. He was not half man and half God; He was the God/man.

When He got tired, sleepy, hungry, thirsty, felt pain and wept it tells us of His manhood. When He calmed the stormy sea by speaking to it, “Peace, be still,” we see His divine nature. He was the God who healed the palsied man and who healed the nobleman’s son. Only God could restore life to three people: the son of the widow woman of Nain, Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha.

As a human child, the son of man, He set the example for children everywhere in every generation to be in subjection to their parents. As the Son of God, He increased in favor with God and man.

On the cross He suffered as a man. Three days later He arose from the grave in the power of God. He kept increasing in favor with God and man.

Let’s celebrate Christmas, but let us also remember He is no longer a baby in a manger. He is God made flesh, living a sinless life among us, dying on a cross for us and raised from the grave, victorious over death.