Happy Holy Day

Happy Holiday? Or Happy Holy Day? What is Christmas for you?

 I’ve mentioned many times that my life and ministry can be summed up in one sentence: “The most important view you have is your view of God and to the extent that your view of God is distorted, your life will be out of focus.” Christmas is no exception to this.

 I believe that what defines Christmas for us is our view of Christ, Himself being God the Son. Without the correct view of Jesus, Christmas is just a holiday. With a correct view of Jesus, Christmas is a Holy Day.

 A great illustration is the character of Ricky Bobby and his attitude towards the Messiah in the movie that was released a few months back called Talladega Nights. (Thanks for reminding me about this Joe!) There’s a scene in the movie where Ricky Bobby, a fictional Nascar driver, is praying to “Baby Jesus.”

 Ricky Bobby: Dear tiny infant Jesus...

Carley Bobby (Ricky’s Wife): Hey, um... you know sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don't always have to call him baby. It's a bit odd and off puttin' to pray to a baby.

Ricky Bobby: Well look, I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I'm sayin’ grace. When you say grace, you can say it to grown up Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus, or whatever you want.

 Ricky Bobby’s view of God is a marker of many people today. “Baby Jesus” is so much easier to accept, and certainly less threatening than the real biblical Jesus. We want to cuddle up with “Baby Jesus”. However, we don’t think of “Baby Jesus” crying with dirty diapers. We think of “Baby Jesus” like the baby Jesus in our nativity sets. So peaceful, quiet, clean...even the cows and sheep are silent, and don’t even smell.

 Now compare “Baby Jesus” with the biblical Jesus. Yes, He was born in a stable, but have you been to a stable recently? They stink! They’re dirty! And yet, here is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Creator of the world, being born in one! Where He should have been born was at the Ritz Carlton of Bethlehem (and that doesn’t even equal His worth)!

 It is easier to adore and cuddle “Baby Jesus” versus grown up Jesus, or as Ricky Bobby would say, “Bearded Jesus.” “Baby Jesus” is much less threatening than the adult Jesus who taught and lived and ministered amongst the outcasts of His day. The homeless, the drunks, the prostitutes...Jesus wasn’t afraid to get His hands dirty.

 And certainly, it is easier to tolerate the infant – not yet talking - “Baby Jesus” than the adult Jesus who was beaten, hung naked, and nailed to a cross. Easier than the true, biblical Jesus that preached difficult precepts such as loving your enemies and examining the sin in your life before judging others. Easier than the real Jesus who claimed to be the very Son of God, which demands a response of faith from each of us. Yes, it’s easier to “coo” over “Baby Jesus” than be faced with the Man who calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. That demands the giving up of our life, and the turning over of control to Him!

 Here’s a simple test to see if you’re getting what I’m trying to say: Compare your feelings about Christmas with your feelings on Good Friday...Do you get it now?

 How you view Jesus this Christmas season will define what Christmas will be for you. Will Christmas be just another holiday, good food, nice presents, and “baby Jesus”? Or will Christmas this year be a Holy Day? Will you realize the magnitude of the incarnation (God in the flesh)? Will you realize that the Creator of the world gave up His spot in Heaven to dwell on earth? He gave up the perfection of Heaven for the stench and dirtiness of that stable in Bethlehem. He gave up the glory of His throne for the shame of the cross.

 Take time this Christmas season to reflect on how you view Him…it’s the most important view you have.

 “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

  John 1.1-5, 14