Over the years, I have developed quite the collection of nativity sets. For those unfamiliar with this term, the nativity is the depiction of the birth of Jesus. It is often referred to as the manger. These sets often contain the virgin Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, a donkey, an ox, some shepherds with sheep, wisemen/magi with their accompanying animals, and an angel or a star. These nativity scenes have a way of bringing our attention back to the historic root of the Christian Christmas tradition. They remove any ambiguity and draw your attention to the cause of the good news of great joy for all people, to the provider of peace and goodwill, the source of our eternal hope, and the revelation of God’s great love and grace for all of humanity. As we look at most nativity scenes, our eyes are naturally drawn to the center of the scene. And, there in a manger or in His mother’s arms, is Jesus, the Christ of Christmas.
The presentation of the nativity wasn’t simply taking place on the stage; it was happening throughout the entire church.
I had a moment of revelation this past Sunday as we were presenting our musical rendition of the Christmas story. As we were performing Born to Us, a song about the invitation to come and see the newborn Savior, I looked out over the crowd that had gathered in the seats and over at the musicians who were declaring the good news and it hit me that this is what Christmas is all about. There in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Seymour, Indiana were people of all ages, representing various nationalities and socioeconomic levels. For a brief moment, those things that made us different were rendered unimportant in the light of the love of God for all people. The presentation of the nativity wasn’t simply taking place on the stage; it was happening throughout the entire church.
Christmas brought us together, much like it did those at the manger. Consider the cast of characters present. We have Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, a young family, displaced by the realities of life, with limited resources, in less-than-desirable accommodations soon after a hurried wedding. Joining them soon after the birth of young Jesus is a crew of shepherds, fresh off the field where they’d been watching their sheep that night. They were poor, uneducated, and generally unwanted in society, but there they were, welcoming the newborn king by special invitation from the Angel of the Lord. Also in our manger scene, albeit somewhat out of the actual order of events in the Bible, are three magi. These were incredibly wealthy, well-educated members of the ruling class, come to witness a momentous event, foretold by prophets of old and made known by signs in the sky. Here we find them all together, not fighting over their differences, but focusing their attention on their shared joy. All are welcome in the presence of the Savior. All belong in the light of His coming. Jesus brings us together.
It goes beyond simply being present, though. Christmas opens up avenues for new family. For many of us, the Christmas season is a mixed bag. We want to celebrate and experience the joy of the season, but we carry the sadness of loved ones lost and the brokenness of life. The manger scene, and the holy family in particular, reminds us that Christmas isn’t always rosy. The light of life comes to us, breaking the darkness of night, and giving us hope to carry on. And, while Christmas confronts us with what has been lost, it also reminds us of what has been gained. My family and I are not from Seymour originally, but as I looked around the room on Sunday I saw new family members, given to me by the grace of God, through shared faith and love in Jesus. The gospel of John tells us that our belief in the begotten Son of God makes us children of God. As we gather to celebrate the Christ, it becomes a family affair. Jesus makes us family.
May we remember that the Christ of Christmas is first and foremost the Christ of Christianity.
Christmas will come and go. We will take down our trees, put away our decorations, and get back to life as usual. As we do let us hold onto the joy of these moments and let us seek to continue sharing the hope which brings us together. May we treat one another with a little more compassion. May we offer just a little more grace. May we remember that the Christ of Christmas is first and foremost the Christ of Christianity. In Christ, we all belong because we are family. We all have a place and a part to play.
