HE CAME TO US
Marie Story
Recently, I was
reading about the history of Christmas and where our various Christmas
traditions come from, including ones that may have originated in pagan rituals
or festivals, and it struck me that one of the most fundamental truths about
Jesus is how He accepts each of us
where we’re at.
Jesus says that
He’ll never reject anyone who comes to Him.1 His circle of friends isn’t an
exclusive club with strict requirements. In fact, He does more than just accept
us; He often adapts Himself to meet
our needs.
It’s interesting
to see how Jesus did just that during His ministry on earth. When He was with
Nicodemus—an educated high-ranking member of the clergy with a strong background
in and grasp of theology—Jesus spoke in ways that piqued his interest and
challenged his intellect.2
When Jesus was
with children, He took them in His arms and gently talked with them.3
When He was in the
company of tax collectors and sinners, He went into their homes and ate and
drank and laughed with them.4
A couple of times
after teaching large crowds, He knew that their most important concern was
their hunger, so He fed them.5
Whether with a
crowd or one on one, Jesus did whatever was necessary to reach each person and show them that He loved them.
This is how Jesus
lived His entire life. He took on a human body and got down and messy with us.
He dealt with daily life, hunger, and fatigue. He probably felt discouraged at
times. But He went through our human experience so that He could feel what we
feel and understand the things that are important to us.
He can take the
things that you know and love—the things that are important to you, like your
Christmas traditions—and give them even
greater meaning.
This year, as you
enjoy your Christmas celebrations, as you open gifts, sing carols, and eat good
food, let those things remind you of Jesus’
deep love for you. Regardless of where these traditions originated, you
can let them point you back to the great gift Jesus gave each of us by coming to
earth, living, and dying for us.
1. See John 6:37.
2. See John
3:1–21.
3. See Mark
10:13–16.
4. See Matthew
9:10.
5. See Matthew
14:13–21; Mark
6:30–44; Luke
9:10–17; John 6:1–15.