Merry Christmas! Have you ever heard the song, “Where’s the Line to See Jesus?” by Steve Haupt and Chris Loesch?
Last Sunday my minister, Pastor Larry Corner of Fallowfield United Methodist Church, shared the lyrics in his sermon. The song is about a little boy who saw the line to see Santa and wondered why we don’t stand in line to see Jesus.
Wow. That stops you in your tracks, doesn’t it? I understand the point of the song is that Jesus, not Santa, deserves all the attention at Christmas. But I think it’s important to remember that we don’t need to stand in line to see Jesus.
Since His ascension no one has seen Jesus other than in visions or in heaven. I can’t see Him, but I can talk to Him in prayer any time I want. “Emmanuel” is a description of who Jesus was while on Earth: “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23 KJV)
I enjoy the calm, the Emmanuel, of Jesus’ presence on Christmas Eve so much. I think more about Jesus on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day, I think, because He was born at night.
I love going to church Christmas Eve, singing carols, and hearing the Christmas Story read. I hope you go to church the last Sunday of Advent, December 23, and make it to a Christmas Eve service. If you’ve never tried Fallowfield, please know you’re welcome.
My picture of the first Christmas is colored by Christmas carols, to be sure. I can’t help but imagine Jesus being a calm baby. I think my favorite song about Baby Jesus is “Away in a Manger,” which is often credited to Martin Luther.
But that supposed silent night was punctuated with big events. Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world. Later that evening heavenly light and music rent the air as angels announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds outside Bethlehem. And while Mary recovered from giving birth, those shepherds rushed in to see her Son. But even in the chaos, I envision a quiet, serene baby, don’t you?
We don’t need to limit “God with us” to Christmas. We can feel Emmanuel anytime we want, if we only ask God to help us feel His presence.
Jesus stands beside me when I’m trembling before I have to play a song on my trumpet that’s an octave above my usual range. He sits next to me on days when I’m so depressed that I sit in my pajamas all day and stare out the window.
He’s with me when I get an acceptance letter for a devotional and when I breathe in the intoxicating fragrance of flowering crab blossoms. And he is with me now as I write, giving me the words that, I pray, will draw a smile to your face and give you a sense of Emmanuel.
I hope you’ll take the time, as my dad does every year during our family’s Christmas breakfast, to read Luke 2:1-20. Before Christmas day gets away from you, make time for Jesus, who is, after all, God with us. Always.
I wish you all God’s blessings this Christmas.