Why are we so fascinated with babies? I mean, they’re just so cute and cuddly. I wonder if it’s partially because they’re so innocent, haven’t done anything wrong. They’ve not yet learned how to stomp their foot in defiance. They’re just babies doing what babies do. Of course, there’s also the fact that their heads are SO disproportionately HUGE compared to the rest of their bodies; you don’t get much cuter than a mini-person with a ginormous head.
At Christmas time too we’re fascinated with a baby. Manger scenes abound, baby Jesus and his Mom and Pop all sitting there on your front lawn with light bulbs up their butts or in their backs. We love that stuff. It reminds us of why we’re celebrating Christmas: the birth of our King.
It’s fascinating to me that Jesus was born just like I was. He experienced the joys and sorrows of life just like I am. But I can’t leave Him there, in that setting; unless we get Jesus out of that manger and onto a rough cut cross, it’s all for nothing.
This Christmas as we see that cute little baby laying in a bed of hay surrounded by those light up animals let’s not only celebrate His birth, but remember too that this baby was born to die. He was born so He could show us how to live in perfect communion with the Father. He then died so we could all have that relationship with God in a very real, personal way.
Don’t let Jesus be only a little baby in a manger. Let Him grow up, die and rise from the dead. Let’s make this Christmas a celebration not only of the birth of our King, but of everything He means. God with us.
8 Comments
That’s one of the reasons I don’t celebrate Christmas as a Christian holy day anymore. There’s no biblical command to celebrate his birth, even though “everyone does it,” and there’s also no evidence that he was born on the 25th of December.
Certainly, we would embrace and rejoice in his incarnation, just like we would any other aspect of his character, person, teachings, or mission. But we don’t celebrate the raising of Lazarus one day every year, or the feeding of the five thousand, or his getting left behind in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. So why celebrate his birth?
So I agree. We must get Jesus out of the manger. No one likes a light bulb up their butt, do they?
You’re absolutely right. While I won’t condemn a society for celebrating His birth, it’s much more important that He died and subsequently was resurrected.
I don’t think most Christians realize how secular this holiday is. Again, I’m all for taking any chance to celebrate Christ. But we’ve got to keep it all in perspective of history.
I agree that we need to get Jesus out of the manger, but I wouldn’t say we need to get him out just so he can be nailed to a tree. I think we need to get him out so that we can FOLLOW him to the cross.
You said, “He was born so He could show us how to live in perfect communion with the Father.” I agree, and again I would add that he was born not just for that reason, but to call us into discipleship with him, and ultimately take up our own cross just as He did.
I love this idea.
Funny, my Advent series this year is “Babies in the Bible” (Moses, Samuel, John, Jesus). One common thread is that they were rescued from death (Moses) or unexpectedly/miraculously conceived (Samuel, John, Jesus). I think even as babies they show us how precarious life is.
Hey this is awesome. I hope you don’t mind but I’m going to quote you on Sunday at youth group. My lesson is about the meaninglessness and meaningfulness of Christmas and I really love that you encourage people to accept that Jesus wasn’t/isn’t(He’s alive now, but not a baby at all) just a baby.
Your last line sums it up “Let
@Bojan: absolutely, go for it.
@Pete: interesting. I never thought of all the babies mentioned in the Bible. That would make for a cool study.
@Jake: I like how you worded that. Very true.
The line “It
LOL. Yeah, I can see that