Merry Christmas! How wonderful it is to celebrate the birth of our Savior! We want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May this Christmas bring an extra sense of excitement in your life for Jesus’ birth, as well as an even greater anticipation of His soon return. May the God of favor fill your heart with joy and peace as you trust and abide in Him. May this next year be a time of fruitfulness in your life as you live for Him, bringing Him glory.
Adoration of the Shepherds – Bartolome Murillo
The above picture is a famous representation of the visit of the shepherds to Jesus. Murillo’s Adoration of the Shepherds is an oil-on-cloth painting, measuring 6 x 7 1/2 feet. Murillo incorporated new methods in his artwork, using various dark oils and intriguing lighting effects. In this painting darkness surrounds the figures, with no light shining on the subjects from the doorways or windows. Rather, the only light is emanating from the newborn babe, Jesus. Therefore, all of the observing faces are lit by this light. Murillo’s painting tells the story that all of the world is in the darkness of sin. The only possibility of true light comes from God, the God who became man, born in flesh in order to reveal the love and light of God to man. From His birth to His death Jesus knew His mission.
On Christmas
Light into darkness came,
piercing our guilt and shame.
Wrapped in frail humanness,
struggling to live among us.
God’s life was placed in flesh,
softly comforted by her caress.
Savior, Messiah, and King,
of Whom the Angels did sing.
From eternity to cradle, Heaven to stable,
the God-Man Jesus was born to die.
In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men,
But rejected by all,
they thought His kingdom would end.
Crucified, buried, and raised,
Jesus ascended to the Ancient of Days.
The Lamb’s blood became sweet,
it purchased our redemption–complete!
From eternity to cradle, Heaven to stable,
the God-Man Jesus was born to die.
In Him dwells all fullness of the Godhead bodily,
And He is head over all principalities.
Every knee will bow in heaven and earth,
Every tongue will acknowledge the Savior’s birth.
From eternity to cradle, Heaven to stable,
the God-Man Jesus was born to die.
God’s righteousness was granted to me,
I’m washed, reconciled, adopted–set free!
Jesus is Lord, Master, and Friend,
peace and goodwill He gives among men.
In this life I’ll always appreciate,
the cradle and cross of the One who now mediates,
His hand touching my head and reaching the Father,
a ransom for all, a treasure, a wonder!
From death to victory, grave to majesty,
the God-Man Jesus now reigns on high.
Jed Gourley
Tbilisi, Georgia
December 23, 2016
Distant Fields 