Advent: December 19 – God Becomes Child

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

The name of this child is “Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6). The baby in the manger is God himself. Nothing greater can be said: God became a child. In the baby Jesus, born to Mary, the almighty God lives.

Stop for a moment! Don’t speak; don’t think! Be still and listen to these words: God became a child! Here he is, poor like us, weak and helpless like us, a human being with flesh and blood like us—our brother. And yet, he is still God; he is mighty.

Where is the power of this child? Where is his divinity? It is in his love, the divine love that made him become like us. His poverty in the manger is his might. Through the power of this love, he closes the gap between God and humans, defeats sin and death, forgives our sins, and brings life after death.

Kneel before this poor manger, before this child born to a poor family, and say with faith the words of the prophet: “Mighty God!” Then he will be your God and your strength.

But now it is true that in three days, Christmas will come once again. The great transformation will once again happen. God would have it so. Out of the waiting, hoping, longing world, a world will come in which the promise is given. All crying will be stilled. No tears shall flow. No lonely sorrow shall afflict us anymore, or threaten.

Sermon to a German-speaking church in Havana, Cuba, December 21, 1930

^{Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. God Is in the Manger : Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Louisville, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2012.}