I Put Away Jesus

Well, last weekend the lights came off the house and the nativity scene in the front yard was put away. Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus were put away until next year. The Christmas season has come to a close and its time to move on. My local grocery store had moved on before I did. I had to go to the store the day after Christmas and the seasonal section that contained all the Christmas stuff had already been replaced by Valentine candy and associated paraphernalia. Out with Christmas and on to whatever is next!

As I removed Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus from our front yard, I couldn't help but think how our culture is one that is constantly trying to remove Jesus from everything. It's not all that different than the culture He found Himself in when He walked the earth. Sure, there were those who loved Him, but thousands couldn't stand Him. They wanted Him gone. Something about Him, repelled them. Something about Him made them want nothing to do with Him. A man who oozed with love, expressed nothing but goodness, and came to set the captives free was hated, despised, and rejected.

Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus left a place where He was loved, celebrated, and praised and came to a place where He was hated, despised, and rejected? He left Heaven, a place where He was surrounded by those who honored, accepted, and loved Him. He left that place and came to a place where He would be hated so much that men would want to kill Him. I don't know about you, but if I was presented with those two options, I know which one I would pick.

Yet, Jesus chose rejection. Jesus chose to be hated and despised. He chose to leave a very comfortable place and come to a place that would prove to be anything but comfortable. Why? In order to rescue you and me. That's it. No other reason. He came to save humanity. The Healer, submitted to being bruised and wounded to save us. The One with all authority, chose to submit Himself to a mommy and daddy. Consider this, the Bread of Life, had to depend on a mommy to feed Him. The Perfect One, the One who knew no sin, chose to be chastised. The Giver of Life, the Immortal God willingly submitted to death. And every bit of it was for the sole purpose of rescuing us!!!

It doesn't shock me that our culture seems to increasingly reject Him. That's always been the case with this person named Jesus. From the moment He entered this world and there was no place for Him in the inn, multitudes have rejected Him. Yet, knowing that's what would greet Him here, He came anyway. He knew the price, yet chose to come. He let nothing prevent Him from doing what was necessary to save us. That truth overwhelms me. His love for us is immeasurable!

Much like me putting away my nativity's baby Jesus, many today are determined to relegate Jesus to what equates to a shelf. Out of sight, out of mind. They reject and despise Him. They want nothing to do with Him. This Jesus, who loves them with an incredible love and was willing to sacrifice everything for them, finds in them complete and utter rejection. Yet, knowing that fact, He still came. He still pursues. He still loves. Day in and day out, He still loves. No amount of rejection, no amount of hate renders His love weakened or incapable of being extended toward them. He loves. That's what He does. That who He is.

His love reached me. He pursued and pursued and pursued. And at a life altering moment of my life, He found a heart that no longer rejected Him but welcomed Him. A heart that once resembled the inn in Bethlehem that had no room for Him, made a place for Him. The One who came and was despised and rejected found a place that welcomed Him. Over the years I've come to realize that if this Jesus would come to a place where He was despised and rejected, He most assuredly comes to the hearts that are welcoming.

Not sure where you find yourself today. But If you are one who has spent a lifetime despising and rejecting Him, He's still loving and pursuing you. He's not at all like that baby Jesus who I removed from the front yard last week. He's not out of sight and out of mind. He's standing at the door of your heart knocking. What's He gonna find today? A heart that welcomes Him or one that rejects Him? Reject Him and He'll just keep loving and pursuing. Welcome Him though, and life will never be the same!

Author: Tim Stone

Tim is the lead pastor at Westlake Fellowship in Montgomery, Texas. If you live in the area, join us Sunday mornings at 10:30 am at 19786 Hwy 105 Suite 120 in Montgomery (beside Magnolia Diner).

www.westlakefellowship.org

Click here to get a copy of Tim's book, "Yep, Even That One: a believer's guide to loving your neighbor"