I heard on the morning news recently that someone had stolen
the baby Jesus out of the Nativity scene at the Masonic Home in Franklin,
Indiana. Now, mind you, this isn’t some
cheap, plastic or blow up baby Jesus.
This is a actual 25-pound statue. It
took a little work to carry it off.
Why?
Why would anyone go out at Christmas and steal the baby
Jesus?
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| Me and Our Tree |
When I was a child, our annual Christmas tree had these
really large plastic decorative bulbs that ringed the bottom. Mom put them there every year. They weren’t anything truly remarkable. They were only plastic after all. Maybe they were unusual in their design and size, but they were not made of anything expensive. Finally,
one year I asked Mom about them. Where’d
they come from? She told me that my
brother had given them to her. My
brother that had died when I was only seven.
Then, she added: “He stole them
from Muncie's downtown Christmas decorations.”
Okay, so I understand a mother’s natural sentimental
feelings regarding a gift from her lost child, but the fact is that she had
been using those stolen ornaments for years before he had died.
Why?
Why would anyone use stolen ornaments to decorate their
CHRISTmas tree?
A few years ago, my daughter spent the night with a
friend. It was a group sleepover, and
they watched a video of one of the hottest recent movies of the time. The Passion of the Christ. Yes, the movie that graphically depicted the
death of Jesus Christ…the fellow that Christmas
is named after. Well, they were all gathered
around the screen engrossed in the intensity of the film…eyes glued to the
events depicted…when someone got up and walked in front of the movie. No, I don’t mean that one of the girls got up in that room and walked in front of the TV.
Rather, I mean that someone on the screen
got up and walked in front of the movie.
Basically, the girls were watching a stolen film of The Passion of the
Christ. Someone had sat in the theater with a video camera and had filmed the movie, and then distributed it...in essence they stole the death of Jesus.
Why?
Why would anyone steal the film depiction of Jesus Christ
dying for our sins. Um, sins like
stealing.
They steal statues of the baby Jesus. They hang stolen ornaments on their Christmas
tree. They steal movies of the death of
Jesus. They do all of those things for
the same reason that folks like us get so angry and raise so much ruckus over the
removal of Christ from Christmas. Happy Holidays. Seasons Greetings.
They do it because human beings have an incredible ability to
miss the point.
You see, Jesus Christ did not come to this earth, walk our
streets, heal the sick, be flogged to a bloody pulp, and die on a cross just so
that we could all have a holiday in December named after Him. He wasn’t born in Bethlehem, lain in a
manger, and announced by angels just so we could break down the doors on Black Friday
or break the internet on Cyber Monday. No, folks, He didn’t come to seek and to save Christmas.
Rather, He came to seek and to save us…to change us.
He wants to change us from the self-serving, thoughtless,
broken people we are, and make us into a people who love one another. A people who care for the unfortunate. A people who build up instead of tearing
down. A people who bring peace to a
broken world.
Doctors and nurses who risk their lives to save Ebola
patients.
A young boy who gives out free hugs at a protest.
A police officer who buys eggs for a grandmother trying to feed
hungry children with no money.
A ninety year old veteran who feeds the homeless.
And the countless other nameless individuals out there that
secretly assist their fellow man or woman without any need or desire for commendation or
notoriety.
So, this Christmas, as you fight the crowds, attend the
parties, and watch your favorite Christmas movies, try to keep the point in
mind:
Jesus Christ is the reason for the
season, and we can keep Christ in Christmas by keeping Christ in us.
“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.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:10-14
Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a wonderful New Year in
2015!
Excellent article!
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