This is a very important part of Christmas. We all know that Jesus was born in a stable and placed in a manger. At least that’s what all the Christmas books show.
Well, after some learning I decided the books were wrong, Jesus had been born in a cave.
Well, after studying some more, I decided that was wrong as well. Jesus was actually born in the inner room of a home where the animals were kept.
And I’ve tried to explain all these changes to my children.
I want them to see the first Christmas perfectly correct. I want it to be real, colorful, and exact. It wasn’t this, it was that. It wasn’t here, it was there! Yes, Jesus probably did cry; I’m sure Mary did feel pain, and she likely wasn’t alone, but I highly doubt she was surrounded by animals!
And I finally stopped long enough one day to look into my kids eyes to see the confusion and uncertainty I was creating. In my haste to educate and make sure they were thinking exactly the way I was, I had missed the most important point.
God came to earth and was born of a virgin.
Emmanuel, God with us. Whether it was a cave, a stable, or a room in a house, the truth is, Jesus came and dwelt among us. God in the flesh. The living breathing Word.
Don’t let the details of Christmas past make you lose sight of what this is really about.
Don’t let the craziness of Christmas present make you forget what you are celebrating.
Don’t let the fear of Christmas future stop you from rejoicing in the truth that a baby born over 2000 years ago still has the power to redeem your painful situation today.
No matter how exactly it occurred, believer, may you celebrate the truth that God Himself came to earth, was born in the city of David, Bethlehem, by a virgin, and walked among us. The King of kings and Lord of lords tabernacled among His people, the Creator dwelt among His creation.
And two thousand years later, He’s still making a difference, and maybe that’s the most important point.