I love the scene that I get in my mind when I think of the Christmas story; all the beautiful angels with white flowy gowns and the star filled night with singing and shepherds looking on in wonder. In my mind it is so peaceful and majestic and perfect. What a wonderful story and image the nativity brings.
But when I really really start to think about all those details surrounding the story...I start to realize that it wasn’t really so sweet. The baby Jesus always looks perfect and serene in the nativity; all sleeping; no colic or gas. We all can agree that sleeping babies are totally sweet, right? What about this travel plan that involved a pregnant woman riding a donkey and lets not forget the husband that didn’t make advance reservations at the hotel. Anyone been there? That can cause a trip to go bad quick. Right? I often wonder why people practically worshipped Mary…now I know…if she endured this without complaint she is deserving of sainthood! To give birth to a baby in a barn next to smelly and noisy animals; no to mention having complete strangers gawking...can be quite a daunting thing! It doesn’t sound so sweet to me...actually something quite like a disaster and quite dysfunctional at that.
And let’s not forget the family is being chased by Herod because he wants to kill all the babies, then the life of Jesus being misunderstood by many, accused and betrayed by the ones closest to him, and beaten and hung on the cross by the very people He was trying to save. So when we just reframe it all in this perspective; SWEET is a far cry from the truth!
Speaking of things not being sweet. Have you ever ate Wasabi, sauerkraut, brussel sprouts or any other horrid item? Well I don't like any of those either...but there is this West African fruit called the “taste berry” or “miracle fruit” that when eaten with anything sour or bitter...they all taste sweet! It is an almost tasteless berry that contains a protein that binds to the taste buds on the tongue to cover the bitter receptors that then causes everything to taste sweet!
Jesus came to give us the tools we need to get our earthly issues and bind them up in heavenly places. Just like the protein that covers and fills in the bitter and the sour part of the tongue….Jesus gives us hope, gives us peace and gives us joy so that we can endure even the hardest of things and have faith to get through them. Now THAT my friends is SWEET!
There is nothing like the peace of God that passes, transcends and goes way over and above all Earthly understanding as stated in Phillipians 4:7 You may be going through some really hard thing but I am here to tell you that you need to hold onto hope. You need to ask Jesus to bind your hurt and to fill you with faith…He is your present help in time of need. Jesus can take all those things that you are feeling drowned by and he can make them sweet. I didn't say that He will take it all from you...but what Jesus came to give...the joy in the middle of heartache...is one of the SWEETEST presents that anyone could ever give or receive. Jesus is the sweetest name that I know and that is why the Nativity scene to Christians can be one of the most precious stories ever told.
Adjust That Crown!
Jonna
