Seventeenth Day of Advent

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
John 19:25 

This Scripture messes up our nice, clean Christmas nativity scene! We don’t want to think ahead to what the baby would one day endure. As I prepared for our annual devotional, I read the Serendipity Bible. At the bottom of the page for this text was this question: “How do you feel when you think about how Jesus died for you?” and the editors suggest several answers: “amazed, doubtful, grateful, guilty, sad, loved, relieved, uncomfortable.”

Great question! Can we add possible answers? How about, “all of the above?” And when we really contemplate – as I often do at communion – don’t we want to add “unworthy” because we know how messed up we are, or “awed” because we are amazed that God allowed it, or “shocked” that nobody seemed to understand what they were doing?

I wonder how the women could be brave enough to watch the horror before their eyes! Were they oblivious that only John was with them?

What do we feel when we consider the cost of our expensive Christmas present? Or do we even consider?

Father, Your Christmas present is amazing. Help us to hold it close and appreciate its eternal value! Amen. 

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator