I often laugh at some of the things Peter said to Jesus. He was always sticking his foot in his mouth. He was rebuked for his words on several occasions and it’s a little comforting to me that he was so foolish (mostly because I can relate to him).

But think about it for a minute – Peter was so comfortable in the presence of Jesus that he was willing to speak his mind, whatever that may be.

Let me rephrase that – Peter was so comfortable in the presence of God that he was willing to say anything to Him, even if it was dumb or ridiculous.

I feel like I can say anything to Jesus, but somehow it’s a little more intimidating for me to talk to God the Father. I feel more of a personal connection on a human level with Jesus than with either Abba Father or with the Holy Spirit.

when I read about Peters conversations and about John (the one Jesus loved) leaning against Jesus’ breast, I see human interaction. When I read about the torture Jesus endured, the compassion He had for the sick and the hungry, the tears He wept for the dead, the love He had for the children – He becomes human to me.

when I read about Him turning water to wine, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and feeding 5,000 people with just a few fish – and He becomes a miracle worker, a human miracle worker.

But when I think about not what He did while He walked the earth, but the fact that He was God incarnate – that He is God the Son – that He is God, I start to feel humbled and less personally connected.

That’s wrong. The fact that He IS God shouldn’t cause me to feel less connection – the fact that God came in human form to connect with us should help us feel even more connected to not only God the Son, but to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit as well.

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the Son of God, the Son who is God, represented on our shelves as the tiniest decoration in our home, the baby in the center of the nativity.

In true honor and celebration of His coming to earth as our savior and King, I pray this Christmas season is filled with joy and peace, kindness and giving, compassion and love.