Throughout my life I've heard the Christmas story hundreds of times. Literally. I can quote it almost flawlessly...depending on which version of the Bible you are using. I've played every character...well, almost every character. I never made a good Joseph. I've been Mary and Gabriel the Angel and a member of the host of Angels. Guys, I know the story. But this year, when I read the story, I feel different.
Mary, an unwed, pregnant girl, has to travel 90 miles on a donkey and ends up having her baby in a barn. I had a baby in a hospital with some pretty awesome meds. I can't imagine someone telling me that my only option is to have my baby right next to a pile of cow poop. I have to think Mary pictured the delivery different too. And then people travel from all over talking about angels and pretty stars and they tell her that this baby is going to save the world. Cool...but does anyone have a fresh diaper or a burp cloth because this baby Savior just spit up all over the only fresh pile of hay in this place.
It must have been hard to be Mary. People gossiping behind your back about an unexpected pregnancy and rolling their eyes when you promise the baby is from God. Uh huh. Heard that one before. You are the mom to this special baby...one people talk about...one people have talked about for centuries. And year after year you watch your baby grow until one day it happens. The thing you heard prophecies about. The thing you wondered about in the dark, quiet corners of your heart. The crowds hate your baby. They spit and they hurl insults and rocks. That thing they say about sticks and stones breaking bones but words not hurting? Not true. Every word shakes you to your core. Liar, blasphemer, one who deserves to die. NO! Not those words! Not your baby! Not the baby from the barn! But your baby tells you it has to be like this. So you watch as your baby is hurt and your heart weeps as your baby dies. For others.
How hard would that be? How could she stand it? Mary. When I think of her and when I try to imagine what emotions her days must have been filled with, I realize I can't even begin to understand.
This time of year, we always talk about the baby and sometimes we get lost in that part of the story. The wise men, some shepherds, Angels singing songs we hear on the radio all season long. But that baby, even as a baby was preparing to do something magnificent. He decided we were so cool that he was going to take our punishment. At church I tell the kids it would be like if you broke their mom's favorite ornament...you know the special one that means everything to her. You were playing football inside by the tree and you bumped it. You watch as it shatters all over the floor. You know you are going to be in so much trouble. But then your brother or your sister or your friend says they did it. They get grounded. They accept your punishment. That's what Jesus did. He came to earth fully intending to be punished for us. For you and me. And Mary, his mom, she had to watch.
Guys, Christmas is a great time of year and I know this is so overstated but it's really easy to forget why we celebrate. So between the turkey and ham and your third helping of mashed potatoes, think just for a moment about Mary and Joseph and Jesus and what happened...not just in the barn but on the tree.
