I See Jesus!

By Carol Harper

I once visited a live Nativity at a very large church—mainly to get away from the commercialism and materialism of the soulless, crowded malls, and get into the real “reason for the season”. I thoroughly enjoyed the lively, festive scenes: A few shepherds with live goats (I guess they couldn’t find any sheep, or maybe “urban sheep” were a bit hard to come by); a scene of wise men with their treasures and gifts (no camels, though…I was kind of hoping to see at least one). A big star was lit with hundreds of white lights, with “herald angels” surrounding it, standing on a scaffold that was situated behind a manger scene, complete with a couple representing Mary and Joseph, with a rather large baby Jesus (well, let’s just say you could tell that he wasn’t born that night). Throw in some coffee, hot chocolate and cookies, and the experience was complete!

As the crowds walked by to view the different scenes and take pictures, I saw some pretty cool things going on. I noticed that some of the teenaged still-actors were smiling and waving small waves at their friends and family; parents and friends were brandishing their cell phone cameras. I saw a goat chewing on something (I think it was straw, although I could’ve been wrong). I saw the bigger angels help the smaller ones with their silver tinsel halos that kept slipping off their little angelic heads (of which I’m sure their parents would beg to differ…on the “angelic” part, that is). The cow and donkey (actually, I think it was a mule) were tethered to a pickup truck and carefully managed by a guy in a cowboy hat (hmm…don’t think St. Luke got that memo). I saw a couple with a toddler in a stroller, trying to get the child’s attention to see the sights and scenes, yet it was clear that she was more interested in the pom-poms on her puffy pink and brown polka-dot coat. And okay, honestly…I saw a young couple kissing in the corner of the parking lot. Very cute. And then, as I walked further down the sidewalk, I heard the voice of a young boy shout:

“I see Jesus!”

Usually, you hear the words, “I see Santa!” coming from the lips of the young at this time of year. It was refreshing to hear the excitement in this boy’s voice…a smart kid who knew the “reason for the season”. I smiled and thought, “Right on!” That kid should win a Wii. Because really, how can some red-suited fat guy in a sleigh pulled by eight flying reindeer even compete with the scene of a baby born in a barn, a Supernova surrounded by a host of angels, and some wise guys with a whole lotta bling? Throw in a crazy, jealous Roman ruler, some shepherds scratching where it itches, and a flock of sheep (well okay, maybe a few goats, too) doing their thing in the little town of Bethlehem, Judea, and come on! There are stories…and then there are STORIES!

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14, KJV

Who do we “see” this Christmas?

I finished my replicated mocha (they were kind enough to pour a bit of powdered cocoa into my coffee) and I took a cup to-go, headed toward the parking lot, passed the cute kissing couple, then searched for my beater car in a sea of SUVs. I shivered and rubbed my hands together before turning the ignition, cranked the radio, pushed the slider for the fan towards the red, and headed towards the interstate. Turned on the back defroster, flipped through the channels to find some [decent] holiday music, and started singing and pounding out a beat on the steering wheel…

But the boy’s voice kept ringing in my head, like the bells on Christmas Day: “I see Jesus!”

I turned off the radio for a moment and drove down the road into the silent night. Do I see Jesus? Where do I see Jesus? Is Jesus here? Did the prophets really “see” Him? Did the shepherds, the wise men really see Him? Is the story of Jesus all just a fairy tale, a dream—just some fantastical bedtime story to satisfy a young mind that there is hope and joy in a world filled with despair, rejection, hate and fear?

The world. As I saw the city lights disappear behind me, there went the world, and the star-studded horizon ahead took me farther away and drew me further down the darkened country road towards home. I pondered upon my claim as a believer in Jesus, and that I would even question the significance of a Light shining in darkness—no matter where anyone existed on the world’s timeline, and most especially now, today—made me pull over, stop the car, and begin to weep.

I got out and looked up at the immense universe, the stars in the country sky sparkling like millions of precious diamonds against black velvet—the crickets and frogs attempting to “sing”, in counter-harmonies, a chorus of carols especially for me. Gone were the city lights, the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowds, the interstate traffic, the bright billboard signs, the cranked radio of dreadful Christmas song remakes, the sound of the fan heating my little car. Incredible was the sight of the star-studded expanse, the smell of untainted air; the trees bending down in a canopy over the road, the sounds and songs of fragile, delicate life, croaking and chirping nearby. It was as if God led me there, to that very spot on the side of a country road—reaching through His creation, saying: I’m here. Do you see Me?

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people

longed to see what you see, but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Matthew 13: 14-16, NIV

That night I experienced Christmas like I never had before. Humankind has created its own stories through religion, legend, folklore, tradition, myth and ritual. But so much comfort, joy and hope wrapped around me like a warm blanket in the chill of a star-studded country night, knowing that an Almighty, Infinite God had created His own story. No help needed; in fact, it was really quite simple:

Two thousand years ago, a baby drew in His first breath, just like us. He grew from boy to man, just like us. He lived and loved, taught and healed. He celebrated and mourned, just like us. He was homeless, a transient, a friend of prostitutes, lepers and tax collectors. He was rejected and mocked, scoffed and cast out…just like us. He was hated and harassed, tempted and tried, abused, beaten, spit upon. He was crushed, crucified, sacrificed. He died, and He arose…

And I saw Him. One night on a country road, I beheld Him and His glory…

I see Jesus. Do you?