I try to write this blog with a few simple rules. One of them is that I try not to write what I might one day preach, or have preached before. At the same time I try not to preach what I will one day blog or have blogged before.
With that said, in preparation for Sunday’s sermon about the little town of Bethlehem from Micah 5 I have been viewing nativity scenes all afternoon and pulling 40 of them into a Powerpoint to be the backdrop of Sunday’s sermon.
I was very moved by Micah’s statement that the savior’s influence would spread around the world. Jesus’ influence has certainly done that. The nativity pictures on Google are proof. Some are made with cartoon characters and action figures. They are from China, Russia, Native America, churches, storefronts, the middle east, Africa, South America and even the suburbs. I tried to pick 40 of them for my Powerpoint, 40 that illustrate that Jesus’ greatness truly does extend to the ends of the earth.
While scrolling through pages and pages of nativity scenes with shepherds, wise men, angels and stars, I found that I was deeply moved in the Spirit. It was hard not to shed a tear of joy and appreciation as I studied hundreds of them. You see, for centuries now, people from all ages, all walks of life and all countries have paid homage to the baby with these incredible nativity scenes.
Micah is quite correct that Jesus’ influence has stretched around the world.
Below are some of my favorites. I would welcome you to turn on a Christmas song and scroll through them or do a Google search of the “nativity” yourself while you consider that this baby in the manger is the one who:
Will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace.
Go-Before Grace 