Kind of an interesting juxtaposition this morning . . . I’m reading the first chapter of the Revelation to John . . . and, in the background, are Christmas hymns being wonderfully played on a piano. I’m reading John’s record of the vision he had of the Son of Man as I’m reminded of the picture portrayed at the birth of the Son of God.

In John’s vision, “one like the Son of Man” stood in the midst of seven golden lampstands, an indication of His authority over the church . . . in the hymn I’m listening to, the son of Mary is lying in a manger in the midst, we imagine, of various animals. John saw the risen Christ clothed with a regal long flowing robe and with a golden sash around his chest declaring His kingly majesty . . . Mary tried to keep the baby Jesus warm with swaddling clothes, a stark reminder of the humility he was born into.

John beheld King Jesus as glorious Judge . . . the hairs of His head white like wool . . . His eyes like a flame of fire . . . His feet like bronze glowing in a furnace. But the shepherds gathered around on that first Christmas night to behold a Savior . . . One who had come to rescue people from judgment . . . One who would give Himself to pay the price due for sin, that all who might would be fully and completely redeemed from slavery to sin . . . that the born again sons and daughters of Adam might experience worshiping the Judge without fear of the judgment.

And when John heard His voice, it was like the roar of many waters . . . His authority beyond question . . . His power beyond imagination . . . but all that was masked on that night in Bethlehem . . . deity was shrouded in humanity . . . power was contained in meekness . . . the voice of heaven was heard as a baby’s cry in a stable.

What a contrast! What love shown by Almighty God to sin corrupted people! Immanuel . . . God with us!

When John saw the risen Christ he fell at His feet as though he were dead . . . the heaven-sent vision overpowering His earth-bound senses . . . his knees instinctively knowing that buckling was the right thing to do in the presence of such Majesty . . . his eyes slamming shut for fear the light of glory might overpower the retinas ability to transport the sight to his brain . . . the heart exploding in worship before the risen, glorious King.

And Mary? Well Mary sought to take in the all happenings of that holy night . . . the birth . . . the meager surroundings . . . the visitation by the shepherds . . . their story of close encounters with the angelic kind . . . the expressions of awe and wonder upon their face. Mary treasured up all these things . . . “pondering them in her heart.” She brought it all together and tried to process it all . . . and, I wonder, if she too didn’t worship a bit.

That’s kind of what I’m doing this morning . . . processing . . . worshiping . . . as I read Revelation 1 and am reminded of Luke 2 by the music playing in the background.

What Child is this? This is Christ the King!

O’, that the incarnation might fill my imagination this Christmas season. That John’s vision might be brought to mind often as I consider the shepherd’s visitation. That I might, with Mary, treasure up these things in my heart and ponder anew the depths of their implications . .. so that I might, with John, worship afresh at the feet of the risen glorious Christ.

O, Come Let Us Adore Him! Amen?