Imagine influential & wealthy people like King Charles, Donald Trump, Vladamir Putin, Ellon Musk, Taylor Swift, & Renaldo relinquishing their mansions, palaces & power for the poorest of housing, getting on their knees to serve the least, last, lost & lonely of our world. These are images which our local musical Nativity surprised us with, backed by Downhere’s song ‘How Many Kings?’

“How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me,

All for me, all for you!”

Here is the staggering impact of the incarnation, God shrinking to human size to serve, save and set us free to live likewise, humbly, lovingly, and well. In our Nativity we had Russian guns pointed at Ukrainian guns, and Israeli guns directed at Palestinian guns, all laid down before the ‘manger’ in which baby Jesus lay. Nearby, Christ’s cross looms large, on which God absorbs the venom, vengeance, & violence of a world set on self-destruction, Jesus praying and paying for Our Forgiveness.

There in the humble horse-trough the ‘hopes & fears of all the years’ are met. Mystery of mysteries, the omnipotent is incontinent, the creator is created, majesty in humility bows to lift and raise us humans up. In a world where ‘might is right’ & ‘meek is weak’ Christ’s Nativity inspires me to continue praying for and working for peace in my neighbourhood & world, to trust that, despite how grim things can look at times, God is in control and will have the last Word, just as He had the first.

And in our local Nativity it is these powerful influencers, named above, wearing cleaning gloves and holding up a toilet / bog brush & basin brush, which challenges me; for this is something I can do in my household and local setting. Rather than leave the cleaning of skid-marks on porcelain white toilets, I can wipe it clean for the next person to use. What might stepping in Jesus’ Way mean for you this Christmas and on into 2025? Will you say “Yes” to Jesus and allow Him to Serve, Save, & Set you free to Love as you’re loved? Happy Christmas!