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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV Last week our little family went to a live Christmas diorama at a local church in our neighborhood entitled Follow the Star. It was very well done and really put us in the Christmas spirit, but what struck me most is that the production showed scenes from the entire life of Christ, including His death, burial, and resurrection. It was such a wonderful reminder that the virgin birth is only the beginning of the story. You may have heard it said that Jesus is the reason for the season. Although this saying can easily become a trite and quippy platitude, there is deep meaning behind it. The true miracle of Christmas is that BE CAME. “I AM”, the pre-existent Christ, the eternal second member of the Holy Trinity, left his place in heaven, humbled himself, and became a man. The God-man Jesus experienced every trial and temptation we can and will ever face, and yet He was without sin. He suffered at the hands of cruel men and paid our sin debt when we never possibly could have. Often on our trips, I will tell our participants that Jesus is their ultimate trail guide. He is not an authority figure similar to a traffic cop that only motions and barks orders to passing motorists. He doesn’t just hand us the trail map at the base of the mountain and say, “Have a nice trip; I’ll be down here sipping a latte.” He made the journey before us. He knows the trials and dangers ahead, and His offer is to expertly guide us through them providing abiding comfort and joy all along the way. This Christmas may we be thankful that Jesus is the reason for the season, but may we also rest deeply in the realization that there is so much more to the story. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us that He might also dwell in us. If we will follow Him, He will not abandon us but will lead us moment by moment as we continually grow in His grace and truth.