I was present at the birth of my child, and, oh, what a birthday that was!
How meaningful! When Jessica turned one, we celebrated by letting her eat cake
and ice cream for the first time. Each birthday, we try to focus on what is
meaningful to the person we celebrate. We give gifts that we think they will
like.
In 10 years, it would be fairly inappropriate for me to give my daughter a
teething ring or a baby diaper. She won’t have any use for that. It is never
inappropriate to remember how cute she was as a baby, but it would be terribly
inappropriate for us to celebrate her as though she still was an infant.
At Christmas, it is always incredible that the event of Jesus' birth is the
center of focus, rather than Jesus Himself! You may say that everything focuses
on Jesus. No, everything focuses on baby Jesus, looking at his pictures, reenacting
the delivery, singing about drums and donkeys, not Jesus the ever living one.
He is no longer that cute, harmless infant, representing peace and love, lying
in the hay. In case we have forgotten, Jesus is all grown up, and He is no cuddly,
quiet guy.
During a Christmas pageant several years ago, in the midst of the program,
one junior high girl realized that the manger was empty. She ran across the
stage and quickly placed the baby doll Jesus where He belonged.
I am convinced that we celebrate the baby Jesus, because He is not a threat.
However, the warm fuzzies of rocking Him in our arms and singing loving carols
is not a reality. That nice little baby that needed to be sheltered from the
cold wind has left His mother's arms. The manger is empty.
Are we in the Church guilty of pushing Jesus, the King of the Universe, back
into the manger, so we can feel secure, relieved, non-threatened? How is it
we can get everyone to bow at the manger, but ignore the Man who is worthy of
our worship? One is quiet, peaceful and, yes, non-threatening, while the other
demands obedience.
The baby Jesus seems to be telling our culture "Buy everything and give it
to the rich:" ourselves. When a man asks Jesus how he can get into heaven, Jesus
doesn't lead him in a simple sinner’s prayer. Instead, He tells the man to sell
everything and give to the poor.
While our Christmas puts a major emphasis on family, the real Jesus gave up
His family and comforts, so that He could be Christmas to people who needed
God. The real Jesus, who is all grown up, isn't so easy to love. He offends
common sense and cultural norms. Someone says, "I want to follow you," and Jesus
replies, "I have no place to lay my Head." Another says, "Let me serve you,"
and Jesus commands, "Leave your father, home, your people and culture, and go
to the land I will show you."
The very essence of Christmas is God's love for people who are desperate for
freedom from the chains and bonds of sin. Jesus came to wrestle them away from
the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light: the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus
Christ. The prophecy of the birth of Christ had to do with a great Light dawning
on people sitting in darkness.
Today we must celebrate Christmas, because Christ not only was born 2000 years
ago, but also because He has been born in our hearts. Today, we are Jesus to
the world. We need to have a purposeful resolution that for those people who
are still in sitting in lands that have no Light, we will give of ourselves,
even as Christ gave of Himself.
Christmas reminds us of His sacrifice in coming to the world. It reminds us
that the Christ, who lives in and through us, continues to command us to "Therefore,
go and make disciples of every tongue, tribe and nation." Christmas encourages
us to give selfless gifts to those who don't have The Gift. It encourages us
to be messengers of the glorious news that man and God may be at peace because
of Jesus, even as the angels said to shepherds.
This Christmas, may it be different for you. I pray that God will press you
into His service. I pray that this Christmas will not be about giving each other
gifts, but about giving yourself back to God and becoming The Gift to those
who are giftless, sitting in the lands of darkness. If He has been calling you,
obey. For when you do, you will be to the unreached peoples of our world, Emmanuel,
God is with us.
