John's Nativity Story ...

I'm looking out the window of the sliding door to the deck onto the scene of snow falling on the trees and the pond. I can see the reflection of the lights of the Christmas tree on the glass. As I do, I'm considering my options -- do we watch "White Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman," "Home Alone," or the local weather channel? I think that Ralphie, the Red Ryder BB gun, and the "Christmas Story" might just win. Maybe it will be "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas."

I rejoice that families behave like families at this time of year. That we make and collect memories, tell the old stories, and get nostalgic over decorations, trees, and traditions. If nothing else happened, it would still be worth celebrating this outpouring of kindness once a year. But there is an amazing reality that sits just below the decorations, the celebrations, the music, and the giving.

In the Gospel of John we read ..."the Word became flesh and dwelt among us ..." (John 1:14). The scope of what John wrote is amazing because he also tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." (John 1:1). John has just told us that the Creator chose to live among us. That is the Nativity story distilled down to its most fundamental truth -- that God chose to live among us in the person of Jesus Christ.

I'm so happy that the other Gospel writers tell us about Mary, Joseph, the angel, the trip to Bethlehem. About the magi, about Anna, about Simeon, about Elizabeth, and about the shepherds. They gave us a way to comprehend the humanity of Jesus' birth and love the humility of it all.

I have wondered why the apostle John didn't tell us more of the birth of His Lord. After all, Jesus committed Mary to John's care ..."Dear woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, here is your mother. From that time on, the disciple took her into his home." (John 19:26-27). John most certainly knew all of the stories that Mary hid in her heart. So why is John's Nativity story so different?

I am convinced that John knew that Matthew, Mark and Luke had given us the baby Jesus in their Nativity accounts. John wanted us to take our comprehension of the baby Jesus one step further. John wanted us breathless at the manger. He wanted us to be, like the prophet Isaiah, "undone" in the presence of the Holy One.

I love God's style. He gives us a heart message -- the story of the baby Jesus who we can all love because it speaks to our love of our own children -- and a head message that captures our imaginations. He wants our hearts and our heads, and He feeds both.

So, as you celebrate this amazing intervention of the Word into the world, hold your family especially close -- make a memory. And think about the deepest blessing of this season ... that He dwelt among us.

Keep the faith.