Which Jesus Will Be In Your Manger?

This morning at the conclusion of our early worship service, God played a heavenly trick on us. Not everyone caught it, but from my perch behind the altar I was an eyewitness. As the congregation sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" an assortment of members dressed in costumes started streaming into the sanctuary, acting out a silent drama of nativity before our eyes. But our 8:45am Mary must have been a bit perplexed. Because when she brought baby Jesus with her, all wrapped in swaddling clothes, to lay in the manger - she discovered another Jesus already making his home there. Imagine Mary's shock and puzzlement. What does one do in such a situation? Well, needless to say - the manger was a little crowded @ 8:45am. One more baby and our church would have been introducing Trintarian theology into the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The whole situation begs the question, "Which Jesus will be in your manger this year?" Author Max Lucado ponders the Jesus we sometimes wish for in his book, Six Hours One Friday.

"For some, Jesus is a good luck charm. The "Rabbit's Foot Redeemer." Pocket-sized. Handy. Easily packaged. Easily understood. Easily diagrammed. You can put his picture on your wall or you can stick it in your wallet as insurance. You can frame him. Dangle him from your rear view mirror or glue him to your dashboard. His specialty? Getting you out of a jam. Need a parking place? Rub the redeemer. Need help on a quiz? Pull out the rabbit's foot. No need to have a relationship with him. No need to love him. Just keep him in your pocket next to your four-leaf clover. For many he's an "Aladdin's Lamp Redeemer." New jobs. Pink Cadillacs. New and improved spouses. Your wish is his command. And what's more, he conveniently reenters the lamp when you don't want him around. For others, Jesus is a "Monty Hall Redeemer." "All right, Jesus, let's make a deal. For 52 Sundays a year, I'll put on a costume—coat and tie, hat and hose—and I'll endure any sermon you throw at me. In exchange, you give me the grace behind pearly gate number three."

As the hours before Christmas march on, maybe I can pause for some honest assessment of just who Jesus is - NOT who I wish he would be. I am hoping that this morning's snafu was more than an innocent mistake. Maybe....just maybe......this is a sign.......from THE COMING ONE. Maybe.....just maybe......THE SILENT WORD IS PLEADING for me.......to empty the manger of my misconceptions and my desires to create the Savior in my image.......Maybe....just maybe....the ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR will come and dwell in me.......

In Christ,

Jon (the methodist)