Humble Beginnings (A Christmas Reflection)
The manager was really just a barn.
And the shepherds probably smelled like sheep and swore a lot.
At this time of year in churches and on television and in nativity scenes across the country we are treated to a version of the Christmas story that is so sanitized and idealized. And in doing so, I wonder if we miss the point.
I recently saw on a news piece this church in Florida, where they spend $1.3 million on their Christmas production (live animals, pyrotechnics & professional actors & actresses) and when they interviewed the pastor, asking him what he thought Jesus might think if he attended, he said something like, “I think Jesus would applaud our efforts, but tell us that it wasn’t even close to the show that was put on that night.”
I’m pretty sure he misses the point.
My friend Brandon is a middle school pastor and they shot a video using Jr. High students, asking themselves what it might have been like.
I’m pretty sure Brandon is right on point.
The point of the Christmas story is not that God came down and there was an extraordinary birth. The point was that it was incredibly ordinary. Actually, it was probably low-class by 1st century standards. He was born in a barn. Attended to by the most unlikely midwife in all of Judea. Witnessed by low-life, sticky shepherds.
For me.
Merry Christmas!
yeah, well, i think this is how it might’ve happened…
eric
December 24, 2007 at 8:56 am
Haha, nice vid.
Deaver
December 24, 2007 at 9:39 pm
My 2 cents…..
I think a lot of people like the idea that the Jesus story is this grand thing. They like the idea that God’s Divine Intervention working is all rainbows, clouds parting, doves, (you get the point) When rather it is full of things that stink of the mundane depending on how you look at it.
Story –
I work for a retailer (three B’s no clues..) and under me is a lot of teens. Well if you work with me or for me you are going to always get three things….
1- How is your heart doing?
2- Whats really important?
3- If you ever need talk about your heart come see me….
All three things are my subtle way to get to the Jesus message. The One who cares for your heart unconditionally. So I have this girl Tori and she is 17. One day (2 or so month’s ago) we were talking as we worked and I unpacked this idea of the fact that we have just too much stuff. That there are people out there who don’t even know what stuff is-who don’t have enough. We have so much stuff we clean out closet’s while there are folks who wish they even had a closet to fill.
Fast forward to last night. Tori comes up to me right before we were leaving and she says “Um don’t think I am weird or anything…Um but I was out and I had extra money…..and I bought these gift cards. I was hoping you knew some people who don’t have enough.” And she produced four $10 giftcard’s to McDonald’s and Subway.
Ugh……My heart did that back flip thing…..
So like the Humble beginnings where God brought forth His Son in a barn….Jesus comes again in the form of four giftcards. No theatrics – No pyrotechnics – So simple So right – - So ….. Jesus.
Merry Christmas in the simplest way like God intends it to be.
jschifo
December 24, 2007 at 11:46 pm
All of this resonates so deeply. And as I peered at the full moon on Chistmas eve, I couldn’t help but be mentally transported back to that cold night in the desert. Seeing two weary shadows trudging through the sand with a gift to deliver the world.
The older I get, the more and more I wish Christmas was less about presents and shopping and all that holiday nonsense, and more about reflecting on what it cost Him to come here and put on flesh.
and charlie, as a former shepherd, we do not stink. or swear. that much.
justin
December 27, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I agree Justin (Not about the shepherd stink I didn’t get that close….)
I looked around this year and I did not care at all about what was under the tree. I did not ask for anything more than a few books this year. Instead I looked so forward to spending time praying with my family, laughing, dinners, and time teaching my son the Luke 2 story – making Jesus just HUGE for him. (The Nativity angel got a good workout ascending and descending to baby Jesus – - – He just loved that..)
It was an amazing God centered Christmas for my family.
jschifo
December 28, 2007 at 1:00 am