One of the central images of the Christmas season is the nativity with the infant Jesus lying in his small manger. It's generally depicted as a sweet family moment with Mary and Joseph looking on, wise men and shepherds gazing in and possibly an angel hovering overhead.
Our church this year did a Christmas drama that took a look at the things that a lot of people currently think about Christmas. Everything from the "good message" of morals to the bah-humbug approach were parodied among a group of mall store owners and customers. It was a fun evening of enjoyable characters.
As I watched, though, it occurred to me that what really was taking place was that those people were trying to put something else in the manger. And in each of those characters I saw someone I know, someone trying to avoid the question of who the event of Christmas is for. I suspect its often because if they really were to acknowledge that that baby was the Incarnate God, life might get very uncomfortable for them. If that was truly God, the things He has to say about their life might mean they'd have to change something. And so they take the warm fuzzies of the season but don't want to step too close to see who is actually in that manger. So reindeer and elves and snowmen and grinches and penguins and polar bears and family and generosity fill the holidays and give them the illusion of celebrating the season without having to examine the Christmas story.
But not everyone wants to avoid the Christmas story.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 8-12)
The shepherds, on getting the news of the manger rushed off to see if it were true. This was a promise they had been hearing about all their lives. And to think it might be true! And in the manger, they found the child.
Throughout the Bible, we see that this baby has a variety of names and roles. But none of those names is St. Nick.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14)
Immanuel - God With Us. I think it's the most exciting and the most terrifying of God's names. Exciting because God came to be with us. Because He loved us so much He would do whatever it took to be with us. Terrifying because a mighty God can ask anything He wants of me. I suspect God came as a child to help us not be overwhelmed by the fear of a very present God. Usually the appearance of angels or God himself began with a "fear not", and probably for good reason. But make no mistake - Jesus came because He passionately loves you, and wanted to provide a way to be with you forever. That baby is also your Saviour, the only one able to take your sin away and promise a future of hope and purpose.
So my prayer for you this Christmas is that you see Jesus in the manger - God with us - and come to know him as the reason for your season.
Merry Christmas!
