Have you ever looked into the eyes of a new born babe and wondered, “Who and what will you be when you grow up?”

We often examine a baby’s face for family resemblance, count fingers and toes and do all the things that assure us the baby is healthy and okay. But when was the last time you looked deep into an infant’s eyes and wondered, “What’s in there? What potential, what plans will you have, what will you accomplish?”

This Christmas, take a second look at the nativity scene. See that baby. If you could look deep into his eyes you would see it.

“In the beginning was the Word (this baby), and the Word was with God, and the Word (this baby) was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him (this baby) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him (this baby) was life, and that life was the light of men. He (this baby) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He (this baby) came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. The Word (this baby) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-5,10-12,14)

Next time you see a nativity scene, look deep into the eyes of the baby. This is no ordinary baby; this is God with us.

Dr. William Burnham is pastor of Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.