Why is the Baby in the manger so important? The miracle of Almighty God coming to Earth? His humbling Himself to the indignity of human birth? As Christians, we know that Jesus came to walk among us both fully as God and man. He was not only partly Divine or partly human nor just one or the other. He was fully both. This is the miracle of Christmas.

God came to earth, not as an angel or a vision or a voice from the sky. He didn't send somebody else with His message. He came Himself. God took on the form and nature of an infant, as a boy, as a teen. What an amazing thing that the Almighty chose to be one of us.

  Jesus came to redeem us, to offer Himself up as a child, then as a teacher, then as a sacrifice, making up for all of our sins. He came because He knew the destructive power of evil and wanted to free us. He came to set things right. He suffered and took our punishment upon Himself. He did what we could not. That's why we rejoice at the coming of this Baby

But even as He endured the indignity of being born in a stable, He came to teach us. It is in His humanity that we hear His message loud and clear -- that God is Love. That He is Merciful, that He is Forgiving.

 Mankind didn't see this message coming. Up until then God was feared and regarded as unapproachable. We weren't prepared for a Baby in a manger.

But when we come to know the human person of Jesus Christ, we encounter the Almighty Father Himself. All we need to do is look at Jesus' life on earth to get to know what the Father is really like.

 He grew up among us. He matured from a boy who astonished the scholars in the Temple into a loving, merciful, forgiving teacher and healer. He prayed, fed the multitudes and formed friendships. He desired to be with His people. Jesus, as man, teaches us that God the Father is so much more loving than we can possibly imagine.

 He grew up as a poor carpenter's son and understands the obstacles we face. We can no longer turn to God and say "you don't know what it's like." Yes, He does.

  He loves us!! He came here to tell us that. He desires to know us -- if only we will seek Him. That's the miracle of Christmas.