“‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:2)
Connections struck me this week. Sobering connections.
Matthew introduces the Jesus birth narrative with the search for “the one who has been born king of the Jews.” He uses the same title, “king of the Jews”, three more times. He records Pilate using the title in Jesus’ “trial”, in the soldiers’ brutal mockery and violence, and on the charge attached to the cross. Mark uses the title five times; Luke uses it three times and John six times – also in relation to the events around the crucifixion. This same baby Jesus we celebrate in our Advent and Christmas services is the same Jesus who will die at the cross. Connections.
This week, with our local Chaplaincy team, we shared a programme called ‘Christmas Unwrapped’ with the P5 from my local Primary School. Thirty-nine P5 pupils came to their nearest Parish Church to hear the Christmas story and to engage with it through story and crafts. They learned about the Advent crown and candles, made Advent wreaths, and explored the Christmas narrative. One of the crafts was a version of the Christingle which they made and could take home. It involves a candle pushed into an orange which has a red ribbon around it. The orange represents the world and everyone in it. The candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World. The red ribbon represents Jesus’ blood shed for the world at His crucifixion and the hope His resurrection brings. It was fascinating to see the children reacting and becoming suddenly thoughtful. Quiet. A deeper appreciation of the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Connections.
“Wait! So, this baby Jesus is the same Jesus who dies at the cross?” “You mean, Christmas leads to Easter?” “So, Christmas and Easter belong together?” Connections. Nine- and ten-year-olds realised something many an adult misses. Connections.
The shadow of the crucifixion falls across the crib.