The Twenty Fifth Day of Advent, 2016

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

  

And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.  Luke 2:12

I wonder if we are not dangerously familiar with the Christmas narrative in Luke. I know I am. I can recite a large portion of this chapter, so I certainly cannot fool myself into thinking that I am really seeing these familiar verses with “new understanding” – unless, that is, God helps me think of them in a different way.

There’s a problem with this text in my life, and maybe in the lives of other believers. I keep on thinking of the “baby” Jesus. I think of Him like this at Christmas – warm and tiny and sweet. But the truth of the matter is that Christmas is only the beginning. He did not stay in that manger, so if that is as far as I go with my Christmas thoughts, I will miss the whole point. He grew to show me what growing is all about. He enjoyed his disciples to teach me about real friendship. He taught to let me know that truth is really there, and that I can find it. He suffered to help me get through the hard times. He died to pay a debt He did not owe because I owe a debt I cannot pay. He rose, overcoming death, so that even death – my earthly death – cannot separate me from my Heavenly Father.

If I continue to look for Him in a manger – the sign that was promised the shepherds – I won’t find Him! That was a perfect sign for them. It won’t work for me! I’ve got to look for the crucified, risen Lord, even at Christmas!

Father, never allow me to stay at the manger. Take me to the cross. Amen.

And Then It Was Christmas: A Journey Toward Christmas
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, 2006,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator.