An “Away in a Manger” Savior

Adjusting my modern imitation of biblical robes, I shift through the men, women, and children visiting our church for the “live Nativity.” I settle into our makeshift stable, and fellow volunteers imitating shepherds and my “husband,” Joseph, join me. When I look down at the baby doll wrapped in swaddling clothes, cradled in my arms, it looks back up at me with its lifeless, plastic eyes, its mouth frozen into a tiny, begging pout.

In my depiction of Mary, I do know that the Savior represented by this doll would “one day walk on water” and “save our sons and daughters.” I am blessed to be on the side of history that knows the Cross and how God entered human history to save us from our sins.

But this baby feels alien in my arms. So far removed, so foreign, so unfamiliar.

Around me, believers and unbelievers alike embrace the season of peace on earth, good will to men. Our gift-giving reflects the greatest gift of all from God, our Creator. Yet, we often hear how it is taken too far from its roots, cheapening our holy day.

Our traditional approach to the birth of our Savior may not help our cause.

When people see me and the swaddled doll, they see a portrait of “away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” For unbelievers, their only knowledge of the Savior may be this depiction of a tiny baby—helpless of His own accord and helpless to save anyone else.

We have lost the original of “adoration” mentioned in our Christmas carols, tied to worship, honor, and praise. Today, the word places into our minds the image of a cute puppy and the exclamation of “Aww!” Without realizing it, we have placed the classic “goo goo ga ga” nature of babyhood upon Jesus.

Protestants reject the implications of the Crucifix—Jesus hanging on the cross for all time, never to reach resurrection and the right-hand of the Father in Heaven. But then Christians cling tightly to the imagery of Jesus in the manger. But are they not similar?

One maintains a suffering Savior, a dead Savior, one stop short of victory over sin and death.

The other maintains a Savior stripped of all power, honor, and glory. Infantilized. A lion without fangs.

Both portrayals are true. Jesus gave up these kingly attributes in His coming to His Creation in the form of a man. But both are limiting. His story and identity extend past the manger of hay, past the Cross, to culminate in His reigning over all.

I want to cling to the holy. I know to what it means to truly adore my Savior. And with this baby doll in my arms, I want to point others to Jesus and His eternal power. It may be hard to imagine that His sovereignty stems from such humble beginnings.

But there is no power in an “Away in a Manger” Savior.