The Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9–10
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."
We enjoy the novelty of gifts given at Christmas. Once the gifts are unwrapped, it is fun to learn and experience new gadgets or toys. But our greatest gift at Christmas is not the latest technological gadget. Our greatest Gift has always existed. And even though He is the Ancient of Days, the joy, renewal, and peace He gives far surpasses the happiness found in any temporal Christmas gift ever given.
Jesus did not become God, nor was He created. He always existed, and He always was God. The full divinity of Christ is shown by Daniel who used the term “Ancient of days” to refer to both God the Father and God the Son. The Christ that much of the world pictures when they think of Christmas, if they stop to think of Him at all, is much less than the Christ the Bible describes.
This was not just any baby who was lying in the manger at Bethlehem. This was God Himself, come to Earth to be the Saviour. It is impossible for us to fully comprehend how Jesus could be both completely God and completely human, yet we believe this vital truth because the Bible tells us that He was. Without being fully God, Jesus could not pay for the sins of the world. Without being fully man, Jesus could not die and become the sacrifice that was required. Christmas should be more than just a special time of year. It should be a time when we meditate on and rejoice in the truth of who Christ is and what He has done for us.
Growth Principle:
As you celebrate the birth of Christ, remember that His coming is a powerful declaration of God’s love for you.