Worship at the manger

By Jim Killebrew

[December 10, 2013]  Being God manifested in the flesh at the advent, Jesus is unique from all other creation. He was there in the beginning, the instrument of creation, the long-awaited Messiah, the dispenser of grace, the ultimate blood sacrifice, the founder and head of the church, and at the end, the final judge of all creation. Although He could have been born anywhere and under any circumstances, He chose to be born outside of the inn, since there was no room for Him there, wrapped in rags by his mother and laid in a manger from which animals ate their food.

His first visitors were the poorest of workers, shepherds from the surrounding fields who were rarely invited to the king's ball to mix with the societal elite. He grew up in a modest economic home life where he learned the value of working for a living by using the craft learned from his dad. He learned responsibility for family, being the oldest, since apparently his earthly dad died before Jesus launched into His ministry. Even His ministry was itinerant as He spread His gospel to as many as He could reach.

For Someone who owned all of creation, He put little stock in riches. His message was countercultural, focusing on "doing for the least of these" while being critical toward those of "religion" and wealth. His compassion, empathy and love focused on meeting the needs of people, rather than accumulating rank, power and wealth.

From our perspective, some 2,000 years hence from His appearing, we have become sophisticated in our complacency and rested in our assurance. Scientists will nullify Him, atheists mock those who follow Him, doubters continue to disbelieve Him, ignorance of Him by the masses continue to prevail, many who believe themselves too educated to be bound by such dependency beliefs in Him continue to sneer at His very name and many in the world at large continue to try to kill Him by killing His followers.

It seems, however, that those who have tried to obscure and diminish the name of Jesus over the centuries have simply failed. A man born outside the inn, laid in a manger, visited by shepherds, scorned by His own people during His lifetime, rejected by the religious hierarchy, nailed on a cross by the occupiers of his home country and laid in a borrowed grave, officially sealed by the government, He has caused quite a stir in our world. From the first century until now, He has had millions of followers, many of whom have given their own lives as martyrs rather than deny Him, millions more around the world who continue to follow Him and would also lay down their own lives rather than deny their strongly held belief in Him.

Shepherds continue to visit Him and wise men still seek Him; for those of us who continue to place our faith in Him, we will once again gather around the manger to worship.

[By JIM KILLEBREW]