Where’s Baby Jesus?
My son’s family has a lovely nativity set from Italy which is displayed each Christmas on a separate table. This table is kid-friendly high. Starting with the first of three kids, the baby Jesus of the set tended to travel a lot!
Baby Jesus might end up in the hayloft of the set. He visited the dollhouse. He connected with dinosaurs, ponies and robots. He spent several days riding the train around the Christmas tree.
It was interesting that Mary or Joseph or any other character was left in place! The focus was on baby Jesus. For some reason the children focused on the Christ child in his manger. Maybe as children they related to Him being their size or having mom and dad watching over them. Maybe it was because the baby Jesus is usually portrayed with open arms reaching out to them.
It makes a point for me. Christ Jesus has come with open arms, reaching out with His love to all people. He is present everywhere, as the glorified Son of God, not simply reflected in some expensive exhibit to be admired, but there with us at our work, in our homes, during times of travel and change. He’s there among us with understanding, love and support as we experience every nuance of our lives.
Some of my friends will spend Christmas with hospitalized relatives. Some will spend Christmas feeling alone as they only have family at a distance. Some are fighting cancer, depression, or a first Christmas without a beloved spouse or mother. Whatever the circumstance, if they know Jesus by faith through the Word they can take that baby Jesus with them and treasure the joy of knowing He came for them. He is always reaching out to them and is with them wherever they happen to be this Christmas time.
My prayer for all of you is that you find that baby Jesus and focus on him. Put him in the place where you happen to be. Praise be to God for sending Baby Jesus, our Emmanuel to be with us and among us.
As LWML women we desire all people to know the peace and joy that our Baby Jesus brings to us at Christmas. That’s why we do what we do as LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission!
I hope your baby Jesus ended up in your nativity set this morning! Christmas blessings to you all!
