A generation ago, nativity scenes were common in communities across America. These displays
were set up to help people remember and celebrate the reason for the Christmas holiday,
which was and is of course, the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
One such nativity scene was set up in the window of a store in a downtown shopping district. Visitors went out of their way to visit the elaborate display that had become a holiday tradition in that city.
A mother and her little boy were making their way toward home one blustery winter day. It was cold and starting to snow, and darkness was falling. The mother, thinking of a long list of responsibilities she still had to fulfill that evening, was hurrying along with her son in tow. The little boy saw the display in the store window and tugged insistently on his mother’s hand. She stopped and turned toward him. “What is it?” she said.
The little boy pointed to the figures in the store window. He had never seen anything like it before. “What is that?” he said.
“That’s a nativity scene,” his mother said. “They put it up every year. Come along now.”
The little boy was fascinated by the display. He pointed to an animal in the window. “What is that?” he asked.
“That’s a donkey,” the mother said.
“And what is that?” the little boy said, pointing to another animal.
“That’s a sheep,” his mother replied. “It’s cold out here, and we must get home.”
The little boy did not move. He pointed again. “Who is that man?” he said.
“That’s Joseph,” the mother said. “Come on….”
“Who is the lady?” the little boy said.
“That is Mary,” the mother said. “We need to get home; it’s getting dark.…”
The little boy saw something else that transfixed him. “Mama,” he said, “there’s a baby in the window! Mama, who’s the baby?”
It was an encounter that could have happened at any time in any place in America. It has very likely happened many thousands of times over the years. A seemingly random event with a harried mother and her curious little boy resulted in the most important question in the universe.
“Who’s the baby?” It is a simple question that has profound implications. It is a question that only has one correct answer—the consequences of which are not only life changing, but will alter the eternal destiny of all who inhabit the planet. It is a question that everyone will have to answer sooner or later.
This was no ordinary baby. We know this because there is no other event in recorded history where a star announced His arrival, and wise men traveled for years to appear before Him to offer their gifts to the newborn King. He was born in a barn, since that is where a lamb ought to be born, as angels appeared to sing Him happy birthday, and shepherds showed up to see if it was true.
It was true, and it is just as true today as it has ever been. God sent His Son, born in obscurity but raised to glory. He is Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is the Redeemer, the Savior, the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the world to purchase our pardon from sin and restore us to our rightful place as sons and daughters of God. He is the greatest gift that has ever been given, either at Christmas or on any other occasion.
As we gather with family and friends during this Christmas season, may we always and at every opportunity answer the little boy’s question with the truth according to the word of God: the baby is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Yours for the Harvest,
Dr. Rod Parsley
Founder & General Overseer
One such nativity scene was set up in the window of a store in a downtown shopping district. Visitors went out of their way to visit the elaborate display that had become a holiday tradition in that city.
A mother and her little boy were making their way toward home one blustery winter day. It was cold and starting to snow, and darkness was falling. The mother, thinking of a long list of responsibilities she still had to fulfill that evening, was hurrying along with her son in tow. The little boy saw the display in the store window and tugged insistently on his mother’s hand. She stopped and turned toward him. “What is it?” she said.
The little boy pointed to the figures in the store window. He had never seen anything like it before. “What is that?” he said.
“That’s a nativity scene,” his mother said. “They put it up every year. Come along now.”
The little boy was fascinated by the display. He pointed to an animal in the window. “What is that?” he asked.
“That’s a donkey,” the mother said.
“And what is that?” the little boy said, pointing to another animal.
“That’s a sheep,” his mother replied. “It’s cold out here, and we must get home.”
The little boy did not move. He pointed again. “Who is that man?” he said.
“That’s Joseph,” the mother said. “Come on….”
“Who is the lady?” the little boy said.
“That is Mary,” the mother said. “We need to get home; it’s getting dark.…”
The little boy saw something else that transfixed him. “Mama,” he said, “there’s a baby in the window! Mama, who’s the baby?”
It was an encounter that could have happened at any time in any place in America. It has very likely happened many thousands of times over the years. A seemingly random event with a harried mother and her curious little boy resulted in the most important question in the universe.
“Who’s the baby?” It is a simple question that has profound implications. It is a question that only has one correct answer—the consequences of which are not only life changing, but will alter the eternal destiny of all who inhabit the planet. It is a question that everyone will have to answer sooner or later.
This was no ordinary baby. We know this because there is no other event in recorded history where a star announced His arrival, and wise men traveled for years to appear before Him to offer their gifts to the newborn King. He was born in a barn, since that is where a lamb ought to be born, as angels appeared to sing Him happy birthday, and shepherds showed up to see if it was true.
It was true, and it is just as true today as it has ever been. God sent His Son, born in obscurity but raised to glory. He is Jesus Christ, the Lord. He is the Redeemer, the Savior, the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the world to purchase our pardon from sin and restore us to our rightful place as sons and daughters of God. He is the greatest gift that has ever been given, either at Christmas or on any other occasion.
As we gather with family and friends during this Christmas season, may we always and at every opportunity answer the little boy’s question with the truth according to the word of God: the baby is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Yours for the Harvest,
Dr. Rod Parsley
Founder & General Overseer