What I see as a real problem is the infant God syndrome. It is the way, when Jesus is mentioned at Christmas; he is constantly presented as a ‘babe in a manger’.  It is as if he never grew up! It is as if he is just a cute religious motif for the season. Please don’t get me wrong, it is not that I don’t believe that Jesus was born to the unwed Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, announced by angels, visited by shepherds.  Those facts are part of the historical record about Jesus[1].  Of course I believe it all happened.  The problem is this: while we focus our attention on the vulnerable infant in the manger, we miss the incredible significance of his birth.  The celebration of ‘Christmas’ becomes a homely festival, instead of the anniversary of a world changing event when the Creator stepped into His Creation to become its Redeemer. Could you imagine taming the anniversary of 9/11 and turning it into a sentimental commercial and gastronomic celebration?

When Jesus was born God set in action his plan to redeem and restore the world and the people he had made from scratch.  Now, God didn’t do what he could have done: He didn’t arrive with troops to round up the guilty parties, to administer justice and clean up the mess humankind had made[2]. Instead, he showed his true character: humble, loving and generous beyond compare.  Instead, He chose to take the consequences of humanity’s rebellion on Himself, in the person of Jesus.  By doing that, he saved people, wherever possible, from the certain, and indescribable horror of coming face to face with the unique and pure power of God, an encounter we could not survive. Jesus, both man and God, became the human shield for us – at one time both suffering for us, protecting us. Jesus was certainly born: he was only briefly the infant God, but he grew up more than we can grasp – he was born to die in our place, redeeming us and our world.

[2] Jesus made it clear that he could have taken this course of action, but choice not to do that was consistent with God’s word.

This year people are still saying that. But there is a new feeling in the air: “Why bother?!”
There is a real disenchantment around the place – whether it is because of the drought, or global warming, or the economic downturn, or the fires, or something else … there is a real sense of disappointment. All the effort you put into Christmas, and its over in a flash – quicker that the left-over food, quicker than the broken presents, quicker than the credit card repayments – so people are beginning to say - “Why bother?!”

Now, that is a fair question. It’s a question that I am sure must have passed through God’s mind more than once! Let’s face it: he made the world and put people in it as caretakers. The job of humankind was to live in the world and take care of it. But, the caretakers decided to run things their own way. And, we have been making a fair mess of it.

So, God sent his son to sort out the mess. Now God isn’t one for lots of show and ceremony. Let’s face it, he doesn’t need to make a name for himself. So he sent his son to grow up in the world. We have all heard about the manger, the wise men, and the cross. So, we know that he understands all the pressures and problems of being human first-hand!

Then Jesus started calling people to turn back to God – but a whole load of people weren’t too pleased, so they made up some charges and had him arrested. Then, after a pretty lousy kangaroo court, they beat him up and killed him.

So, you could understand why God could say “Why bother!” After all – if you sent your only son to sort out some ratbags who had hijacked your world – and then they turned around that murdered him, you would have to ask “Why do it?” “Why bother?!”

But, that’s not the end of the story. God took that broken body of his son and breathed new life into him. You see God had a much bigger plan -–he was going to sort out the hijackers by giving people an escape route. When he sent his son, he wasn’t sending a helpless baby – he was sending the man to rescue millions. And, his rescue mission even overcame death. And, he did it for you and me. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so that everyone who trusts him could share that new life.

So, this year, whether you bother with the traditional Christmas celebrations, or do something different – I want to challenge you to trust Jesus and get involved in his rescue mission. He put his whole life into it. From the time he was born and laid in the feed trough in Bethlehem, his life was on the line.

Should Jesus have bothered about you?