Don't Block Jesus

Happy 4th Day of Christmas!
Hope that you all had a wonderful, healthy Christmas weekend!
 
The Christmas pageant in the small, neighborhood Episcopal church was a carbon copy of similar pageants around the country. Only in this one, in this year, at a critical moment, a little nine-year-old girl said something that people never forgot.
 
The manger was in front, as always. Young Mary wrapped in her blue mantle. Joseph sported a beard glued together from cotton balls. The wise men were there, too, as were the shepherds. And in the middle of them all, was baby Jesus, lying in the manger. The nativity story was read, carols were sung, everything went off without a hitch. Well…, almost. Various children were the angelic host. They were robed in white with little gold garland halos above their heads. They were sitting beside their moms and dads throughout the church. At the designated moment, they were to walk up front, circle the manger, and sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will among men.”
 
And so they did. But there was a problem.
 
As the little angelic children gathered round the manger to sing, one little girl couldn’t see. She was nine years old, smaller than the rest of them, and ended up being so far back that even on tiptoe she couldn’t see what was going on. In the momentary pause after the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest…,” this little girl electrified the entire church by crying out in a voice shrill with irritation and frustration and enormous sadness at having her view blocked.  She said, “Let Jesus show!”
 
Let. Jesus. Show. 
 
I believe that service could have ended right there in that moment. No need for further preaching or proclamation. Let. Jesus. Show. Mic Drop! What more could be said? This little girl has an incredibly profound message that we can take to heart. We must. My hope, prayer, and goal is that our church is always a place where Jesus is clearly and proudly proclaimed. That we shine and show Jesus on Sunday morning (and every other day of the week).  That when people walk in and worship with us in these walls, they would feel the love, hospitality, and kindness of Jesus in all that we say and do.

Certainly, as a church we must let Jesus show. But this is true for each of us on a personal level too. In these days of Christmas—and really any day thereafter—we need to make sure our view of Jesus is never obstructed.  We dare not lose sight of our Savior because of the crowds and clutter around us.  Worldly chaos is good at distracting us; it is good at irritating and frustrating us.  There are far too many things in this world that loudly demand our time and attention.  But in every moment, we remember those three clear words from that wise, yet innocent little girl... Let. Jesus. Show. 
 
As you turn the calendar to a New Year, what is getting in your way? 
​What is blocking your view of Jesus?
 
“Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he bought. Don’t put it on the shelf unopened. And don’t open it and then make it a means to all your other pleasures. Open it and enjoy the gift. Rejoice in him. Make him your pleasure. Make him your treasure.” (John Piper)

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.” (Hebrews 12:2 GNT)

*** H/T to author Chad Bird for initial pageant story.