Have you ever sat in an Imax Theatre to watch a movie that was bigger than life? You know – where the plane flies between the canyon walls and you have to grip the side of your seat to remind yourself that this is only a movie and you are really NOT moving?
Christmas stories are abounding right now. Some that have nothing to do with the real Christmas, but they are fun to watch. Other movies dabble in the real Christmas and are heartwarming. Still others really do drive the point home: what is Christmas and what are you supposed to do with it?
Lately, I’ve been hearing the Christmas Story being read from Luke’s Gospel in the Bible. He does a good job with his record. In writer terminology, he doesn’t tell us, he shows us.
Imagine the shepherds as they sat or layed around the ground watching their sheep, watching the stars – it must have been a clear night. The night skies here the last few nights have been clear and cold. The full moon lit up the white frosted-tipped trees and the stars glowed. It’s been beautiful to behold. My guess is the shepherds were looking at a night like that.
Suddenly, the account tells us that the sky lit up brightly and there were large beings with wings above them singing and announcing a GREAT EVENT. Maybe they heard trumpets!
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14. Then the overpowering beings told them to go find a Child in a manger at a cave that shelters animals. What must that have been like?
We are used to watching movies these days. If we saw this at the Imax Theatre, would we be overwhelmed? If this happened today on a hillside at night, would we be afraid? Or would it just seem like a giant movie and when the sounds of song faded away, would we yawn, agree that it was a lovely sight and go to bed?
When I shared that idea with a friend, he assured me that God would leave nothing undone to announce that this was no ordinary Baby nor ordinary entrance into the world. We would be just as overcome if this happened today. He’s right. God would make sure of it. And … we should be overcome with awe.
This is how a King came.
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12.
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