Humanly Impossible

How Jesus Came to earth is humanly impossible. 

And what He offers to us is also humanly impossible.

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.’” Luke 2:8-14

The Shepherds knew there was something there and that it was humanly impossible to conjure. The something was God, in human form, who would accomplish the humanly impossible: save humans from themselves and from each other. 

Jesus, born to humanity in such a way that scientists are still reeling because they cannot replicate it. 

Jesus, born to humanity in such a way that intellectuals smugly guffaw because their minds, as smart as they claim to be, cannot fathom it.

Jesus, born to humanity in such a way that artists and poets indeed imagine it, to the point that they never realize it. 

Jesus, born to humanity in such a way that humanity itself cannot humanly accept and know Him.

And that’s why Christianity is the absolute truth: there is nothing of man in it. 

Christ, in His entirety, is God in human form for 33 years on earth (John 10:30). His arrival and his leaving are not of this world, nor were His works that He did while here. 

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

“I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30).

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

And He--unlike any human before or after Christ's time on earth during which Jesus performed miracles--died and rose again, and currently sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. 

I am thankful to God for this light--Christ--that He made shine out of darkness, continuing to this day, for all who are ready and ripe for His harvest, tended and empowered by God. 

I thank God that the Christ whose birth I honor at Christmas is not of human origin and not human (John 5:18). 

In that, I find hope: because He is not of humanity, but instead sent here for humanity—to break the curse of humanity that is humanity itself: fallen, blind, and walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2).

When His light penetrates and we, in contrition and repentance, receive His good news of great joy, then we will know peace on earth: not a human peace, but His peace; a peace that says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.”

Copyright Barb Harwood