"Wonder of Wonders" by Sidlow Baxter

     One of my favorite Christmas poems was written by the old Australian pastor and theologian, Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter. Even though I read this poem every year during Advent, I never weary of the beautiful manner in which describes my "indescribable" Savior....

     “Was ever a gift like the Savior given? He leaves the bosom of the eternal Father, and comes to the bosom of an earthly mother. The Son of God becomes the Son of Mary. The Infinite becomes an infant. He who holds the world in His arms is held in the arms of a frail woman. He whose garment is space, whose house is the universe, whose chariots are the clouds, and whose diadems are the stars, is wrapped in swaddling bands, and laid in a manger.     

     “He leaves the palace-beautiful of heaven, for the stable, the work-bench, and having ‘no where to lay His head’.  He lays aside His celestial insignia, for the peasant dress and the purple robe.  He puts aside His scepter of universal sovereignty, for the reed of mock royalty in Pilate’s hall. He who is Prince of life bows His head in death.  He who is without sin becomes Sin-bearer.  The Christ of God becomes the Crucified.  He who is the Father’s delight becomes the God-forsaken.  He who lit the stars lies in the dust.  He comes, He toils, He hungers, He thirsts, He weeps, He suffers, He bleeds and dies! – for God so loved the world that He ‘gave up’ His only-begotten Son.”