Beyond scripture, nothing brings out the true spirit of Christmas quite like the Nativity scene.

It's such a raw, intimate imagining of the event that literally divides time into BC and AD.

And the magnitude of the event is absolutely not lost in classic Nativity paintings by some of the world's greatest artists. It's assuredly humbling to witness the divine inspiration they interpreted through scripture.

One particular painting arrested my attention this year:

This painting by noted French artist, Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre, vividly captures the phrase "in awe". Everyone is in awe of the Child!

It occurred to me then to wonder, "Do those people really know Who they’re looking at?"

Do they recognize the face of God?

The brilliance.

The angels.

That’s where God’s most at home.

And now God is home with them.

I’d be in awe too.

I’m in awe now.

Even scripture underscores the significance of no one ever having seen God…until Jesus was born.

"In awe" was tailor-made for that moment.

May you be in awe particularly during this season and time for Christ!