Pondering the nativity scene from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

     Last Saturday Crystal and I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is undoubtedly one of the most impressive collections I have ever seen. One of the many displays that stood out was an impressive nativity scene. As we walked in to the grand hall of the museum there is a huge Christmas tree and under it is a beautiful 18th century Neapolitan nativity scene. 

      We did not spend much time looking at it because there was so much to see, but something seemed interesting to me. As I looked at the scene is it very familiar. The expected characters are there: shepherds and sheep, wise men from the East, Joseph, Mary and of course baby Jesus. It is one of the most beautiful nativities scenes I have ever seen, it is a work of art.
      It was not till later when reflecting upon the scene that something unexpected came to mind. The stable scene is not where I would expect it. It does not seem to be set in Bethlehem in a stable at all, but among the ruins of Roman columns. At first this annoyed me, I do not like when artist change the story of the Gospel. However, after some reflection I believe I understand what the artists were trying to convey. 

     The birth of this child changed the world. It was the beginning of a new age and the death of the old. While the power of Rome will crumble, His Kingdom will never die or decay. Though the Herod’s and Caesar Augustus’ have long since died, He lives. There have been many earthly kingdoms that have risen to power and died. Yet through this Christ child a Kingdom like none other was brought into the light. 

     As we read the news of the day there is war, evil, and greed all around us. However, we must never forget that what was said by the angel to Mary about who Jesus would be, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

The Joy Of Giving

      I love giving gifts to those I love, don’t you? There is something special about bringing joy to others at Christmas as they open the presents we give them. However, as I have said to many, it is easy to love those we love. It is much more challenging to love those we don’t much like. Real generosity of our time, money, and energy is to give to those in need, not just those that are easy to love.  

This time of year our hearts seem to be more open to giving to the needs of others than other times of year. Perhaps, it the understanding of the great gift God has given to us (2 Cor. 9:15)? Or perhaps it is all the movies and books and such we watch and read this time of year. Whatever the reason it is a good thing.

When the translators of the King James translation of the Bible sought the most powerful word in their culture for love they chose “charity” in 1 Corinthians 13. Today we often see this word as negative. We say things like, “I don’t want your charity;” or “I am not a charity case.” The concept of genuine love expressed in charity is biblical.

Consider the chilling words of Christ in Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus in verses 35-40 said, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’^”

In this passage Jesus says on the Day of Judgment we will give an account for how we have given to and cared for others. There are few things in this world that reveals our hearts and attitudes than our practice of generosity. Through generosity we demonstrate in a concrete form what we love most, we love others more than we do our own comfort. 2 Corinthians 8:9 and 9:15 gives us the example of Christ for how we should give. With that in mind, are you showing grace and generosity to others not only during the Christmas season, but year round?

Merry Christmas my friends  

The Paradox of Christmas

 

           The Bible tells us that Mary pondered the things she was told about Jesus (Luke 2:19) may we do the same. I am struck over and again by the fact that Christianity is a religion of paradoxes, this is seen no clearer than when we look at the Christmas story. Ponder with me all the mystery and glory of that day that changed the world, the day God became flesh and dwelt among men. 

           The very idea that the infinite God of the universe would humble himself and become a man is unthinkable, but true. He, whose power knows no end, came as an infant. For generations many were looking for his coming, but few recognized it.

            Mary was poor, young, and without power, but God chose her to bear his Son. He was not born into nobility, but to peasants. He was not born in a palace, but in a barn. Though he is the most important person to ever live, he was not noticed by most.

He created the world (John 1:1), but there was no room for him in that world in the night he took flesh. He left the spender and throne of heaven to lie in a manger. He, as the Son of God, was clothed with eternity, yet as a babe was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

            Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords; however he said he did not come to be served, but to serve. It was foretold that the Messiah would come and rule, but he established his Kingdom through the cross. Through his death, he brought us life. Though he was completely innocent he took our punishment.

            God had foretold many years before that Jesus was coming. Revelation 13:8 says he was slain before the creation of the world. God knew what must be done to save us before he even created us, ponder that for a time. In the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15) God foretold his coming. The promise is echoed through Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Naomi, David, Isaiah, and many others. When he finally came it was the shepherds who first heard the news. Salvation has come, and it has come in the form of an infant. That is a powerful paradox, and more than that, it is a miracle.  So let us ponder this paradox of greatness through humility this Christmas season.