Christ as Enmity

Popular Christmas sensibilities most often portray the Christ as a helpless baby. This we should not forget, as it reminds us how the almighty God took upon flesh. Jesus was a man — the son of God. If he had not his humanity, Christ could not have satisfied the wrath of God on the cross.

Yet for many, the baby Jesus lying in a manger never grows up. The safe, baby Jesus demands little more than an occasional diaper change, or a rocking to sleep. Lest this Christmas season cause us to forget, let’s remember that Christ served not only as nativity, but as enmity.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.
[Genesis 3:15, ESV]

This “helpless” babe became the adversary of all that is evil.

That’s one reason my favorite piece of Christmas music is George Frederick Handel’s Messiah. It not only looks at the nativity, but ends having shown us the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who shall reign forever and ever.

Merry Christmas, and may the Christ that is babe, enmity and king reign in your hearts.