It’s Christmas once again. For many, this is the one time of year that we think of the story of the Christ child: the babe in the manger, stars, gifts, and perhaps even choirs of angels. It’s an incredible story, though for some, it may be only a myth and for others a sentimental memory of Christmas traditions.
Even for those of us who believe that the story is true, we may decide not to further pursue the many wonders and questions it raises. In perspective, it’s a very warm and lovely story. A special child is born under adverse circumstances, and God watches over and protects him. His devoted mother, Mary, survives the risky birth and suffers through an unconscious and uncaring world. It’s no wonder that Mary is so highly venerated. The animals are there, as well as humble shepherds and wise kings; there’s something in the story for everyone. It’s uplifting, touching, and encourages our better moral nature. It’s a Kodak moment: he’s a boy! (Maybe even a very special boy) Yes, I’ve never seen a baby I didn’t love. For the safe and sentimental, my guess is that’s as close as many want to get to Christmas.
Of course, don’t misunderstand me; we will never be able to fully appreciate all the profound implications and blessings of the birth of Jesus, but for those who delve no deeper, there’s a bit of a problem: that sweet little baby is now two thousand years old. Or more to the point, Jesus grew up and became a man! And not only, but as the story progresses, died and rose again! It’s a little like marveling over Einstein’s discoveries and pretending that it had nothing to do with the atomic bomb. The very appropriate joys of a divine birth, revealing God’s intervention into the time/space world, soon morphs into a cosmic battle for the souls of humanity with some rather sober and disturbing developments, yet it also promises an ageless hope.
Yes, almost 2000 years have ticked by since that birth and those early events. But with the death and resurrection of Christ, the church was also born, and the body of Christ (metaphorically and literally) has grown steadily throughout history. Regardless of conflicting interpretations, the babe in the manger has cast his matured influence over at least a third of the earth, and still counting. His followers are now the greatest single block of people who identify with and surrender to one personal name on earth. True, some of those who bear his name may be caught up in the excitement, the tradition, or who may even be insincere, but try applying that same test to any other group of followers and tally the true converts. And in spite of the controversies, the most notable attributes of Jesus Christ remain to be love and peace.
Those who came to that humble stable bowed in awe and admiration, but in many ways they had little understanding of what that baby would mean to all of humanity, past, present, and future. 2000 years later, it’s getting harder to keep some distance from the baby Jesus, much less ignorance about his full and ongoing story.
As we recognize and really worship, Jesus, this Christmas, may we recognize the historical development of that child, who is now anything but a baby, and the resulting rebirth of a movement towards the final act and conclusion: the coming transformation of the earth into a spiritual realm that truly exemplifies God’s heaven.
