With the Newborn of Bethlehem

Knowledge of the Lord in Christianity is not merely theoretical knowledge; the demons believe, and tremble. 

Rather, true knowledge is experiential knowledge, in which the Lord Jesus becomes to each and every believer their Christ and their God and their own Shepherd, the bread of their own life and the object of their own love, faith, service, efforts and sacrifices.

He is Jesus the Saviour

This is the experience of our encounter with the Lord: He was born in Bethlehem in order to beget us to a second birth by water and the spirit.

In baptism the old is buried and all things become new. In this holy mystery we receive from Christ the pledge of salvation. 

He gives us the new man, puts a wedding garment on us, and we become children of God, who are born not of blood or the will of man, but of God. 

While the son travels to a faraway land, and amuses himself with the vanities of the world, the Lord Jesus the Saviour keeps his arms outstretched, awaiting [10] his return with yearning and sympathy. The soul remains far away from the green pastures tended by the faithful shepherd, and so it hungers and thirsts: a man finds himself in a vacuum, isolated, needing a return to the Saviour; Jesus the Redeemer comes knocking on the door, in the hope that the soul might snap out of its waywardness and awaken from its slumber, finding no other option than to cry out saying, ‘Have mercy on me!’

Say but one word, my Master; help me so that I can begin.

Cast but a single glance, my Saviour, and I will be strengthened and revived.

Grant but a single touch, my God, and I will run and bound homewards.

Suddenly my eyes fill with warm tears. Suddenly my heart is filled with grief over the days eaten up by locusts. Suddenly my spirit rejoices, exploding with happiness because it has undergone the experience of repentance and renewed the covenant of salvation.

It recalls the words of the angel: ‘for He will save His people from their sins’ (Mt 1:21). In this experience, the soul hears the Saviour’s voice saying, ‘Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord! … the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away. I, even I, am He who comforts you’. 

O soul, arise and shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has shone upon you!  This is what it is to experience the encounter [with God], and it works powerfully in the life of a believer: [11]