Isaiah 9:6 NIV
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
“In her book, “Bright Valley of Love,” Edna Hong tells the true story of a disabled boy in Germany by the name of Gunther. He heard about Jesus for the first time at about 6 or 7 years old, when he was brought to a Christian orphanage. But just as he was about to celebrate his first Christmas, his first and best friend, Kurt, died. Gunther was just learning to talk, but he cried out, “There’s a crack in everything! There’s a crack in everything,” and, sobbing, he continued, “What’s so great about Christmas?”
The man the children called Uncle Pastor sensed Gunther’s cry for help, so full of pain, and he asked if the other children could answer Gunther’s question: “What’s so great about Christmas?” One little girl answered, “Christmas is so great because God sent his son, Jesus, to be our Savior.”
“That is true,” said the pastor, “But does anyone know why God sent his son?” A little girl, Leni, who was slower than the other children, thought for a while, and finally she shouted triumphantly, “Because … because … everything has a crack in It.” *
Everything has a crack in it. Perfection was rendered perfectly flawed through the Choices of Adam and Eve and the rest of our Biblical history (and for most of us personal as well) consisted of God’s people running from and then repenting to God.
The shepherds were no exception. Like fishermen, they were known to be a “salty” bunch with a less than stellar reputation. But these thoroughly “cracked” men were the first to hear the good news that their Savior Jesus was born. I believe that it was not by proximity to the stable nor happenstance that these outcasts would be the first to hear of Jesus’ birth, but rather to send this message to us all: Jesus came to save the sinful.
Children have no pretenses as to their perfection. They know that sometimes they are naughty and sometimes they are nice. That is why Christmas is all the more magical when seen through their eyes, because they easily believe that Jesus came for them.
Sadly for the rest of us, it is harder to admit the “cracked” parts of ourselves. But when we deny our cracks, we deny our need for a Savior. This Christmas let us see that the beauty in our imperfection is Jesus and, in the words of Paul, may we say
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for coming to save a sinner such as I. Amen
RSL
*Hub nelson, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Edina, Minn. (Retired)
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