Back to the Manger

What if the familiar decorations surrounding us each Christmas could become more than seasonal symbols—what if they could point us directly to the heart of God? This powerful message invites us to see Christmas through fresh eyes, using the imagery of pageants and plays to remind us that Jesus declared Himself 'the way, the truth, and the life.' When Jesus used the Greek word 'hodos,' He wasn't offering directions or a map—He was declaring Himself to be the actual road we walk. This transforms everything about our faith journey. We're not simply following instructions to reach God; we're walking in relationship with Jesus, and that very act of walking with Him places us in the presence of the Father. The beauty of the children's Christmas play 'Back to the Manger' reinforces this truth through time travel across decades, showing how each generation discovers the same timeless message: Christmas is about God's extravagant love made visible in Jesus. From 1 John's reminder that 'no one has ever seen God, but when we love one another, God lives in us,' to Jesus's words in John 14, we see that Christianity isn't just something we believe—it's something we live and act out. Our lives become living testimonies, making God's presence walkable and visible to a watching world. This Advent season challenges us not just to watch the story of Jesus, but to walk it out in our daily lives.