Meeting Jesus: A Kiss on the Face of God
By: Julie Ranson
Tags: Advent, Love, Christmas, Christianity, Faith

I love Christmas. I mean, I love-love it. As the song says, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. I love the colors, the aromas, the lights. I love the music too, and I’ll be sharing some favorites. Most of all, I love the reason for the season: Jesus’ birth.

God’s love was born in human form that special night.

The first thing I do when I begin decorating my house for Christmas is put out my Nativity set. It’s a new-ish one, and I’ve received new pieces like sheep and an angel the past few years. It now fills our entire kitchen fireplace mantle.

When my kids were young, it was important they understand that Christmas is about Jesus, not Santa. We had a small set with a twiggy shelter and porcelain figurines. Because the word “nativity” was hard to remember, they called it “the Jesus thing” and were excited to help with its setup.

Photo by Julie Ranson

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the message focus is love. Honestly, I feel more loving toward others at this time of year. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not — shouldn’t I feel the same all year? Maybe it’s the gift-buying, which I enjoy doing. You know, thinking about a loved one and what a perfect gift for them might be triggers genuinely warm and deeper feelings of love.

A mother’s love

When the angel told Mary that she would conceive and deliver God’s perfect son, here’s what happened.

And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. (Luke 1:46–49, NIV)

In this moment, she worshipped and honored God for choosing her. She was blessed, she felt loved.

Imagine. You’re Mary, about to give birth to God’s son. You’ll name him Jesus.

One of my favorite contemporary Christmas songs is Mary, Did You Know? written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green. In it, Mary is asked if she realized that she was carrying a healer, a deliverer, a miracle worker, a ruler, a perfect sacrificial lamb.

Imagine. You’re Mary, kissing the cheek of your sweet baby boy. Kissing the face of God.

God’s love

The love of God is a familiar concept to believers. We understand that Jesus took on human form because God loved us too much to see us perish and suffer in sin. Scroll back up to the photo of the Holy Family in my nativity set. See the cross there? That was given at my church many Easters ago. I never put it on a necklace as it was designed. Instead, it’s a permanent part of our nativity scene because it’s the reason for the season. It’s the reason, period.

Charles Wesley wrote these words in Hark, the Herald Angels Sing:

“Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die.”

Jesus’ entire three-year ministry was love in action. Love requires action; we must demonstrate love through some physical manifestation. Consider these Seven Different Ways Jesus Showed Love. His preparation and work on earth led to His death on the cross.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.(Luke 19:10, ESV)

Pray with me