The family across the street from us has a great, classic-style nativity scene in their front yard. It’s got three wise men with gifts, a Mary and Joseph, a shepherd boy with a lamb, and a manger. Sadly, there’s no Jesus – I suspect because in some nefarious Christmas past, the baby got swiped.
I was pulling into the garage with my daughters and the older one – age 3 – noticed the nativity scene. So we went across the street and looked at it. We talked about each character and what they might be thinking. And then, of course, came the question: “but Daddy… where’s Baby Jesus?”
Thinking quickly (and wanting to avoid the questions that would follow if I said, “someone stole Jesus”), I said, “well, it’s not Christmas yet. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, and it’s not Christmas yet. So we have to wait until Christmas Eve for Jesus to be there.” It was a lame answer, and my girl wasn’t buying it. “But Daddy… It’s just hay.”
And I had to laugh at a three-year-old’s ability to get right down to the issue. The nativity scene was neat, the wise men, the shepherd – even Mary and Joseph – are important. But in the end, they’re supporting cast. Their lives are made eternally significant because of the role they played in Christ’s story. Jesus made the characters important. And without the Jesus, the manger is just hay.
Today is Christmas, and today we celebrate the fact that 2000 years ago, the Sovereign God of the universe sanctified a dirty barn in a rural town on the outskirts of Jerusalem and used it in His story. He upended plans and lives and the entire established order in order to make men holy, to save us, and to begin a sort of re-creation process that He’ll one day return to bring to completion. Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, left heaven to make you and me whole.
The result of that first Christmas is huge for us who believe. Just as Jesus made the hay of a feed trough holy and significant, He has chosen you and I to play a role in His story.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jer 29:11)
My little girl hit on something big (though she doesn’t know it yet). We have significance because of Christ. Christmas happened to demonstrate that not only does God love you and me immeasurably more than we understand, but the incredible significance He offers us. He saved you to make you a part of His plan, to give you hope and a future.
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(Luke 2:14)
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