Where is Jesus?
I was pleasantly surprised and joy-filled when I walked through the corridor to our apartment and saw this beautiful nativity set and the large characters displayed. It warmed my heart and soul!
This nativity scene and those in our homes are more than decorations. They are invitations to reflect on the heart of the Christmas story. But what happens when the baby in the manger is missing?
Years ago, my four-year-old granddaughter discovered that baby Jesus had vanished from my nativity set. Her frantic cry, “Where is Baby Jesus?” filled the house until we found Him. Her big brother (5-years-old) had mischievouly hidden Jesus from her. Oh me!
That moment stuck with me, and I’ve often wondered: could Jesus be missing from more than just our nativity sets? Could He be missing from our hearts, our homes, and our daily lives?
The Christmas story is much more than a manger scene. It’s a picture of how close Christ wants to come to us. His first stop was Mary’s womb, and He makes the same offer to us: “If you’ll let Me, I’ll move into you.” Just as Christ grew in Mary until He was delivered to the world, He desires to grow in us — until His presence is seen in our actions, words, and choices.
In this season, life can feel overwhelming — conflict, busyness, and distractions swirl around us. Yet, like Mary, we’re invited to pause and reflect on the miracle of Christ’s birth. We’re called to make room for Him, not just in a stable or a nativity set, but in every corner of our lives.
If Jesus feels distant, take a moment to ask, “Where is He in my life?” Is He missing from your conversations? Your decisions? Your relationships? The good news is, He’s never far away. Just like we searched for baby Jesus that day, He’s waiting for us to welcome Him back into our hearts.
This Christmas, let’s make every room in our lives a Bethlehem. Let’s allow Christ to dwell in us so fully that we “deliver” Him to our world through our love, grace, and kindness. When we do, every place we live becomes a place of hope, joy, and the glory of God.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)