Yet in the midst of celebration there is often sadness. Broken relationships and loss through death can be more acutely felt during this time of year. Many live with constant physical pain and illness, which makes it so much more difficult to participate in all the fun.
The God who created this immense universe and is also able to see the mundane detail of our everyday lives took on human flesh and was born as a baby. He came to experience life as we do, with all it's joy and pain.
Jesus came to experience broken relationships. One of his closest followers, Judas, eventually committed the ultimate act of betrayal that led Jesus to the cross.
Jesus came to experience the pain of separation because of death. Not just his own, but that of those close to him too. Remember Lazarus? When Jesus saw the grief of Lazarus's sisters after his death, he entered into it with them and wept.
Jesus came to experience physical pain. Before his excruciating death on the cross, there were thorns shoved into his brow. He was beaten. He carried his own cross.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
{Hebrews 2: 9-10}
He came to suffer for us. He came so that suffering would end. On the hardest days, the only thing that can help us to endure is to look forward to eternity without emotional or physical pain. What a beautiful gift!
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
{Revelations 21: 3-4}
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