The most famous person I’ve ever met was Gerald R. Ford. It was nearly 30 years ago. I was walking down a corridor at a small airport near Vail, Colorado, early one Saturday morning. I was there to rent a car to drive to a conference. Since there were no commercial flights arriving or departing that morning I didn’t really expect to see anyone at the airport, let alone a celebrity. But as I was walking down that corridor, there walking toward me was none other than the former president, surrounded by several men in dark suits who were obviously secret servicemen.
I didn’t know what I was supposed to do as he approached. I couldn’t avoid the encounter, since the corridor was so narrow, and we were the only ones in it. Should I make eye contact? Look away? Was I supposed to say something? Nothing? I was intimidated and at a complete loss for words. Thankfully, President Ford broke the ice. He looked directly at me, smiled and said, “Good morning.” And of course, I said the same. And that was the end of that encounter. Sorry if you were expecting a better story.
If it’s intimidating meeting a politician, sports figure, or movie star, imagine what it would be like coming face-to-face with God. God isn’t a mere celebrity, he’s the Creator of the universe. He’s not just powerful, he’s all-powerful. He’s not just a little intimidating, he’s holy, he demands holiness, and he hates sin. By rights, we shouldn’t just be a little nervous about meeting God; we should be downright terrified!
You may or may not ever meet a president or other powerful leader. But it is 100% certain that you and everyone else in this world will meet God. We’ll meet him face-to-face when we are called from this world in death, or when he returns to judge the living and the dead — whichever comes first.
I think most people would be intimidated to meet a world leader. But who’s the least intimidating person you can think of? A kind-hearted grandparent who always seems to have a smile for everyone? Maybe a dear friend who never has any harsh words for you or anyone else? How about a baby? It’s difficult to imagine anyone less threatening, less intimidating than a tiny baby. While the thought of raising a baby may be intimidating, a baby itself is anything but intimidating. Babies are vulnerable. They’re dependent. They’re weak and small and helpless.
How utterly amazing it is, then, that when our Lord came to this Earth over 2,000 years ago, he chose to come as a baby — a tiny, helpless baby. Even though he was and is the eternal Creator of the universe, he left his throne in Heaven and came down, not as a terrifying judge or an all-powerful ruler, but as a newborn baby.
But Jesus didn’t take on human flesh at his birth merely to put us at ease, so that we wouldn’t be terrified at his coming. He did it so that he could do a job — the most difficult, the most important, the most incredible job there ever was. Jesus humbled himself so that ultimately, he could go to the cross for our sins.
It may seem a little out of place to be thinking about the suffering and death of Jesus as we prepare to celebrate his birth at Christmas. But the reality is, nothing could be more appropriate. When Jesus came to us at his birth, he did it humbly. He humbled himself in life and in death for one reason, and only one reason: to take away our sins. He did it so that we might be drawn to him in love, rather than driven from him in fear. He did it so that we might live with him forever. And this, finally, is why we celebrate his birth at Christmas.
You will come face-to-face with Jesus one day. But don’t be fearful or intimidated by that reality. Rather, look forward to it!
• Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau, a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. “Living and Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Saturday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.
