Merry Christmas My Friends! December 9, 2022
I love the Christmas season. I mean, I LOVE IT!!! I love almost all of it. I love Christmas trees and Christmas lights and Christmas decorations. I love Christmas carols and Christmas movies (It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street are my two favorites) and shopping and trying to find that perfect gift for someone that says “I care about you and wanted to let you know and see you smile.” I hear many go on and on about the commercialism of Christmas, but I absolutely believe that gift-giving is Biblical and there’s not a thing wrong with it.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11.) This verse seems to not be a condemnation of the giving of gifts but more a surprise that we who are so evil could do something that’s so “God-like.”
Anyway, I digress. I do love the Christmas season. I even love…drum roll, please… Santa. Now, I know that causes much concern among some Christians, but please understand that it’s a tradition that I grew up with and I can honestly say that since coming to Christ I’ve never suffered a moment of conviction over the issue of Santa Claus. If it’s an issue with you, I’m cool with that – but it’s just not one with me.
But here’s the one problem that I have with Christmas – and it’s not the fault of the stores, the toy manufacturers, or the church or anyone else’s fault. It’s my problem: slowing down long enough to sit and meditate on what Christmas is really about. It’s SO easy to say “I know Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and I understand that fact,” but it’s something else entirely different to sit in wonder and awe and dwell on the truth of the Christmas story. So join me for a few short moments in traveling back in time to revisit, or maybe even attend that first Christmas for your first time.
Approach the manager with me.By the way, just a short footnote: I didn’t even
know what a “manger” was. I thought the manger was stable. But it’s not. I looked up the definition of “manger” and found this: “a box or trough in a stable or barn from which horses or cattle eat.” So the baby Jesus was lying in a manger which served as his crib or bed.
Let’s assume that we’re the first to arrive, even before the shepherds. So it’s just you and me and a couple of teenagers who have just had a baby. Look at them. Think of how they must feel. Both have been visited by angels. Joseph has watched his virgin bride become pregnant with child. But do you think any of that truly matters at this
moment? They just had a baby, a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Yes, they know this baby is somehow unique. But it’s their child. The awe and wonder that accompanies the birth of anyone’s first baby fills them. They look a little frightened and bewildered, don’t they? If you’ve had a child, you know what I’m talking about.
Suddenly we notice the smells around us. Wet straw, the stink of the animals, that smell that comes with a cool desert evening. The stench of animal waste surrounding the couple and their baby that is common in all stables. It’s really hard for us to imagine that God would allow His son to enter the world at this time, in this way. It all seems so….unsanitary.
Listen to the sounds. Mary is crying. It’s a quiet, exhausted, happy cry. Why wouldn’t she? It’s the most wonderful and confusing time. Hear the braying of the donkeys, the mooing of the cattle and think once again….it’s hard to believe that the son of God would be born in this way.
Remember as you take it all in: you know the whole story. Mary and Joseph do not.
Approach the manager and look down. We see a beautiful, tiny baby boy, but at the same time, we realize we’re gazing at the Son of God and the Son of Man. Our minds reel. We’re seeing where eternity has stepped into time.
Where the Holy steps into the unholy.
A King becoming a pauper.
The Divine is meeting that which is..not.
All of that is wrapped up in this tiny baby boy. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Lots of hair. It looks like any other baby.
Then the reality hits. As we look down, it suddenly dawns on us that the tiny, beautiful baby boy has been born….to die. He’s been born to give his life as a ransom for many.
For us – for you and for me.
We recoil at the horror of that thought. But deep in our hearts, deep in that place within us where we usually don’t like to go, we know the truth. We know it has to happen.
Because otherwise, the gap between mankind and God can never be bridged.
Because otherwise, the gap between ME and God can never be bridged.
Because my LIFE has condemned this tiny baby to death.
And all I can do is fall on my knees weeping and saying over and over, “I’m so, so sorry.”
The next time I sing “Oh Holy Night” at my Christmas Eve service..it truly means something.
Merry Christmas, my friends. I didn’t send this to ruin your Christmas season.
I just hope you find some time to come to the manger anew this year.
As always, would love to hear your thoughts.
Serving Together,
John D. Jones
Did you know:
*In 2022, LifeQuest Volunteers spent 1,300 Hours Annually meeting with Clients
According to the Independent Sector’s website, the value of Volunteers’ time is $29.95. Independent Sector is a national Membership Organization made up of Non-profits, Foundations, and Corporations. LifeQuest’s Annual Volunteer hours are valued at $38,935.00
*2022 Bibles Studies engage over 45 clients monthly
*2022 Character Development Classes engage over 11 clients monthly
*Facility Mentoring engages over 15 clients weekly
*In 2022, 15 clients have continued Mentoring upon release
*In 2022, 164 Christmas Care Kits were delivered throughout NM
Christmas Parties were held at 4 facilities throughout the state
Christmas Care Kits were shipped to 2 County facilities
Christmas Trees were supplied in person to one County facility
*Since its launch in 2021- 51 youth (ages12 to18) went through The 4:13 Journey
*4:14 The Continuing Journey has about 8 youth weekly
*Since its inception 25 youth have hiked the Grand Canyon, 7 youth hiked the Grand Canyon in the Fall of 2022,
*One youth was baptized in the Colorado River