He was so young and yet so old – Jesus did not begin His existence in the stable of Bethlehem, or even in Mary's womb, although it is true, of course, that the human Jesus began at that point in time. But there never was a time when the Christ who became incarnate in Jesus did not exist. He was not a product of the womb; He was the producer of the universe.

He was so poor and yet so rich – It is not by His riches we become rich, but by His poverty. He alone of all mankind possessed the privilege of choosing His ancestors, and He deliberately chose a peasant family. He elected to associate Himself not with the "haves" but with the "have-nots". He became poor to ransom our souls. "For your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV)

He was so small and yet so great – The God of thirty trillion galaxies became the size of a pinhead that He might enter the human race, yet "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9 NKJV) In the incarnation, the infinite became the infinitesimal. Someone once said, "I know not whether He is greater in the cradle or among the stars."

He was so mute and yet so vocal – The scene in the stable was incredible — the Word was unable to say a word. The One who framed the organs of speech was powerless even to pronounce a single syllable. The One who named the myriads of stars was incapable of saying even "mama", yet "No one ever spoke the way this man does." (John 7:46 NIV)

He was so earthly and yet so heavenly – A little child is a bundle of intense and immense physical needs — yet nothing is more heavenly than a baby. The Babe of Bethlehem was earthy, a normal human infant, but He was the Lord from heaven.

Prayer: Marvellous Father and gracious God, thank You for these five paradoxes of Jesus' incarnation. May our hearts be filled with joy this Christmas as we meditate upon them. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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