What child is this?

 I want to understand better the man they call Jesus. Do I really know him? Isn't he supposed to be more than just another historical figure? I can tell you what I think I know right now. I will some day soon compare it to who I find when I read the New Testament (King James version).
  I know he had a Mom who was a virgin. He had a step-father. He was born in a manger, yet a king. His life was full of conflict, from day 1. His birth was such a great event that the whole Earth rejoiced, and angels sang. Yet when he was little, the king at the time had all the babies killed, trying to kill Jesus. Jesus sure has a story to tell. He was a carpenter. Of all the options to man-kind, and he was a carpenter. Interesting choice. He came to save all of man-kind with his redeeming love, and his own people rejected him. He came to trump Justice with Mercy. He came to show us the way.
  Yet with all of his proclaimed and evident power, he let the people crucify him. So that he could publicly show how he rose from the dead and conquered death.
  He is known best for his love and teachings, yet there is no mention of a wife, or any children. I always found that very conflicting.
  My church has a Christmas program called Light the World. It gives people a principle and a challenge every day from December 1st to the 25th. Each day it says: Jesus was ______ and you can be _____ like him. Example: Day 1 "Jesus lifted burdens, and so can you". I have been following this, and I've enjoyed it. Who is Jesus? Jesus is a man who honored his parents. He helped others. He worshipped his Father. He healed the sick. He read the scriptures. He fed the hungry. He prayed for others. He visited the lonely. He ministered to children. He showed humility. He clothed the naked. He worshipped through song. He showed compassion. He cared for his mother. He honored the Sabbath. He calmed the storm. He saw potential in others. He forgave others. He showed gratitude. He was a peacemaker. And you can be like him. 2 days left.
  I'm just saying that the man gives me a lot of reasons to be a good person. And a lot of reasons to be happy. I will never get enough of those 2 things. Jesus is love. I want more love. It's a good match.
  And yet.... Jesus had all the love in the world, for all the world, and yet they condemned him. They did not understand him, they didn't want to. He was a Joy to the World, and a reason to rejoice. Many societies still celebrate his birth every December.
  I just see all of this conflict.
Here is one of my favorite uncommon Christmas hymns, and rarely can I sing it without tears in my eyes:
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.

  Every single second of his short life was full of purpose, and every detail was for a reason. He could have been born in a palace. But he was born in a stable. He understood the depths of humility. although I'm guessing that wasn't the purpose of it. What was it really like to be Mary? To conceive this child. To know his worth. And to watch all of this go down. She out-lived her son. Did she know how it would end? When she knew who her son was, wouldn't she have supposed the entire world would adore him like she did?
  It's not enough to ask "Who is this Jesus?". Not unless I also ask: "What does He mean to me?" I'm not saying Jesus is real. There are those who would argue well against it. I'm saying I Believe.

Christmas is upon us. Jesus is the reason for the season. I say we give ourselves a reason to believe. I say we look for the joy, and the better way. Those 2 things add a very nice dimension to Life!

P.S. I know what you may be thinking, Renee, if you are reading this. I'm not bashing Santa. I'm not telling anyone what to believe. I just think it's ironic that some people who don't believe in Jesus, DO believe in Santa as a tradition. Is Santa much different? He loves the children. But he makes judgements. He has a list of Naughty and Nice. He will bring a lump of coal to a bad child. (Which is no gift, unless you do art work with it?) But it will keep you warm a little bit longer. Most people love the Santa idea. It encourages kids to be good. It brings a bit of magic to the holidays. Same with Jesus. I know Renee doesn't believe Santa is real (sorry to pick on you, Renee! Especially since this is a monologue and you can only defend yourself with me, the next time we talk). But the idea of Santa is fun. All I'm saying is try to consider the same with Jesus, at the very least. What if he was real? What if he helped your children want to be good?
  Oh, I just decided that maybe for Christmas from now on we will buy for little babies. That way it accents the baby Jesus theme. Like for Mom's who need help with diapers and I can crochet tiny hats with matching blankets all year. Yep, I'm glad we had this little P.S.