Devotional: Christmas through the eyes of a three-year-old
Written by Major Lisa Frost, divisional secretary for program at The Salvation Army Northern Division
One of my mother’s Christmas traditions is to withhold baby Jesus from her nativity set until Christmas morning. One year, when her firstborn grandson — my nephew — was about three years old, he asked her, “Grandma, where is baby Jesus?”
“He’s not been born yet,” she explained. “Jesus comes only on Christmas Day. Then, you’ll find Him lying right here,” she added while pointing straight to the manger.
Like years past, Christmas came. Mom and Dad’s house was full of excitement as each family member arrived with their arms full of stuff – presents, food and the games we intended on playing. We expected to exchange gifts and enjoy a time of food, fun and celebration. My nephew expected something totally different. He came running into the house shouting, “Is He here, yet? Is He here? Has Jesus come?”
My mother took him over to the nativity and there, cradled in the manger, was baby Jesus. He had come as promised.
The Promise of a Savior
More than 2,000 years ago, God promised us a Savior. In a little town called Bethlehem, God kept His promise and Christ our Lord was born. Luke 2:7 (NIV) says:
“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
In this familiar scriptural account of Christ’s birth, I’ve always been bothered that there was no room at the inn for Jesus. I can’t help but think, why did only some stop in their busyness to recognize the signs of prophecy being fulfilled? They were so busy in the hustle and bustle of a mandatory census that life just got away from them. In doing so, they missed the event that changed history. They missed Jesus coming into the world. Likewise, we can become so busy with our Christmas agendas, personally and as a body of believers, that we can miss Jesus too.
While most missed what was happening that holy night, Christ’s birth didn’t escape the attention of heaven, and my friends, it did not escape the inn keeper. He made room and offered what he had available — a barn, a stable for the infant King to be born.
Later in the scriptural account we read that Jesus’ birth didn’t escape the notice of a few shepherds and some very wise men either (read the full Christmas story below). They pushed aside their duties and agendas to make room for Jesus. In fact, like my nephew, some of them anticipated His arrival. In doing so, their lives were changed forever.
You Always Make Room
Christ’s presence may go unnoticed by many this time of year, but you and I — along with heaven, a few shepherds, three wise men, and others who have made room in their hearts — can experience all the glorious wonder that only He brings. If we make the time and room for Jesus, I know He will show up. My nephew taught me that lesson about thirty years ago.
So, I invite you to take a breath, and joyfully make room for Christ to come. Anticipate His arrival and experience Christmas like never before! For His coming changes our lives and our world. Follow in the steps of the inn keeper and always make room!
The Christmas Story in Scripture
The birth of Christ is recorded in God’s word, the Bible. The Christmas story is weaved throughout the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible, though all four Gospel books – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – record Jesus’ life on Earth and His sacrificial death for all mankind.
If you’ve never heard the Christmas story before, we’d encourage you to read it for the first time this year. For those who have heard it before, may reading it again remind us of the true meaning of the season.
Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-12 (NIV)
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Read in context.)
Chapter 2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Read in context.)
Luke 1:26-56 and 2:1-21 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Read in context.)
Chapter 2
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (Read in context.)