Unpolished Christmas

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV

Take a look at your nativity set, if you have one. The porcelain faces gently portray serenity and Christmas cheer. Mary's perfect eyes look down at the Christ child, and we can easily picture ourselves quietly stealing into the stable to worship with the shepherds and wise men.

...but what if?

• What if the baby cried? It's what babies do. It means they're hungry, wet, tired, overstimulated (think "God-Man") or the swaddling... whatever the baby is wearing... is wrapped around the big toe. He likely used one of the few communication tools he had.
• What if the shepherds hadn't bathed in three weeks and had sheep dung clinging to the hems of their garments? What if they were rather "ripe?"
• What if the wise men were still a long way off, like maybe two years from coming, puzzling over a new star? (Read it. It's there. They took a while. Matthew 2.)
• What if the livestock were not quietly milling around or sticking their noses just over the edge of the manger? What if they were making normal animal noises and filling the barn with the stench of all things creature-like? 
• What if Mary... I stick my neck out here... was less than polished? 

Let's take another look at Mary. Not once does scripture say she was beautiful. Nowhere does it say she was popular, or smart, or even remotely desirable by human standards. Our own Saviour was spoken of in the prophets; "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2 NIV) Why do we have to make His mother out to be a "Barbie girl"? What if young Mary had pimples and greasy hair, was a little bit pudgy and teeth that weren't aligned just right? What if the sweat from childbirth made her hair stick to her face and she was pale and worn from the intense work of labour? What if she wasn't kneeling by the manger, but haggardly propping herself up on one elbow when the shepherds came to visit? What if God only looked at a tender heart and said, "That. I can use that willingness."

The more I watch the Lord work, the more I see the verses above play out; God uses the weak and less than spectacular. What if one look at Mary would have made our critical minds wonder if this was really God's plan? What if the entire first Christmas would, by our standards, have been a horrible mess? But what if, in all of that, the glory of God came crashing through our brokenness and imperfections? What if God looked at the heart of someone who was less than glamourous and filled her with the praises of the newborn King? 

And what if God is still doing that? What if God pours out His hope and joy in broken but willing hearts? What if God scoops us up, exactly the way we are, throws His arms around us, and says with tears streaming down His face, "I love you!!" What if He showed that love by ordaining that those little hands and feet would be destined for grotesque, excruciating nails so that we could be made perfect?


Do you have an unpolished Christmas? So did Mary. So did Jesus. So will we; but He came to invade that unpolished and ugly existence with His perfect salvation. Celebrate the King!

Merry Christmas!