Christmas - Easter Lite?

[Billy Cox]

I posted a bit of this in the Christmas Sunday thread, but I think it is a topic in itself...

While watching the morning news the other day, I saw a commercial for a local church Christmas drama. The drama had all the typical nativity elements, but then there were clips of a crucifixion and the Jesus character with blood all over him. I had been mulling this question for years, but now I am ready to ask it.

My question is this: Does the Christmas story have any meaning beyond the death and resurrection of Jesus?

[Barbara Moulton]

I posted a bit of this in the Christmas Sunday thread, but I think it is a topic in itself...

While watching the morning news the other day, I saw a commercial for a local church Christmas drama. The drama had all the typical nativity elements, but then there were clips of a crucifixion and the Jesus character with blood all over him. I had been mulling this question for years, but now I am ready to ask it.

My question is this: Does the Christmas story have any meaning beyond the death and resurrection of Jesus?


From Calvin Miller's "The Singer"

Earthmaker set earth spinning
on its way
And said, "Give me your vast
infinity
My son; I'll wrap it in a bit
of clay.
Then enter Terra microscop-
ically
To love the little souls who
weep away
Their lives." "I will," I said,
"set Terra free."

And then I fell asleep and all
awareness fled.
I felt my very being shrinking
down.
My vastness ebbed away. In dwind-
ling dread,
All size decayed. The universe
around
Drew back. I woke upon a tiny
bed
Of straw in one of Terra's
smaller towns.

I know that the cradle led to the cross. But the Incarnation, on its own, is one of the most wonderfully incomrephensible expressions of love that we could ever ponder.

It pretty much takes up all of my Christmas meditation.

[Meghan Schoonover]

I think Christ's sacrifice is the supreme meaning of Christianity...but, in this season, I find it a bit ghastly to have blood all over, etc. I do prefer to focus on Immanuel and the fact that God became flesh, so in answer to your question - of course there's meaning to this season beyond the death/resurrection. God in flesh is amazing. But Jesus' sacrifice *is* what saves allows us to be washed clean and saved, so...? Not sure how I feel, exactly.

Well, we could just do all of Handel's Messiah (http://www.worshipmap.com/lyrics/messiahtext.html) every Christmas and Easter and that would about cover it. :D

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I agree with you in principle. There is a lot of other themes surrounding the incarnation. Ordinarily, here at least, we normally focus on those themes at Christmas time.

However, as it happens (bad timing with regards to your perspective) our theme for this particular year's advent season is, "Seeing the Cross at Christmas."

The following is an excerpt from a puppet presentation we have begun working on (I will be live as "Pastor" talking to the puppets).

This scene opens with the pastor complimenting their work on decorating for Christmas

...
Bailey: Anyway, Pastor, there is just one more important thing to do and we need your help with it.

Pastor: I’d be glad to help. What do you need me to do?

Adrian (interrupting): Bailey wants you to get rid of the cross.

Pastor as he starts to move toward the cross: OK, I can certainly do that. I’ll just put it… Hey wait a minute. Did you say, “get rid of the cross?”

Scott (to Bailey): See, I told you he wouldn’t want to get rid of the cross.

Rufus: Let me handle this. Ah, yo, Pastor Dude. It’s Christmas. You know, angels, shepherds, a baby in a manger. That cross is kind of out of place, don’t ya think?

Bailey: That’s right. Christmas is about Joy to the World, and Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men, Good news for all the people. We don’t want to see the cross at Christmas time.

Rufus: Right on, Bailey. I mean, Pastor Dude, the cross is kind of a downer man. Now be a good pastor and get it out of here. You know, as in out-of-sight, out of mind.

Pastor: Now wait just a minute you guys. I think we should talk about this a little first.

...


The discussion that ensues centers on the birth being "good news" because it was the birth of the "Savior," and being the Savior meant going to the cross. The presentation ends with the puppets deciding to leave the cross where it is. (Our cross is "empty" of course and we won't be showing blood during the season!)

Wilson