Christmas Day
Matthew 1.18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
As we gather on Christmas morning we will see the manger is deliberately empty. Christ is no longer a baby. The promise started in a manger with a baby, but it does not stay in that time and place. This is where many like to leave things. It has been used in culture and movies to that effect. Praying to Baby Jesus, because he is safer that adult Jesus, and much safer than resurrected Jesus.
We hold to different view. One seen in C. S. Lewis with Aslan the Lion. When the children ask if he is safe they are told, “Safe, no Aslan is not safe. But he is good.” Not safe, because life changes when we follow Jesus, the Jesus in the gospels and the Resurrected Jesus. It may not be safe, but it is always good. Good that we see ourselves following the Jesus who taught, healed, fed and cared for people.
As we celebrate Christmas, may we see the Jesus in the manger with joy, the Jesus in the temple bringing wisdom, the Jesus in the crowds bringing grace and healing, the Jesus on the cross bringing reconciliation, the Risen Jesus bringing hope of life, and the returning Jesus assuring us of our place with him in the New Creation.