WHY MANY LOVE THE “BABY JESUS” MORE THAN THE “ADULT JESUS”
By Nana Yaw Aidoo
It is that time of the year again. The time to think of Christ as a baby. And oh! What a baby He was. Isaiah and Matthew tell us He was born of a virgin (Is.7:14; Mt.1:18-25). It is the time to sing those sweet Christmas carols. He is the “reason for the season”. Isn’t He? It is the time when people who are not really “church people” find some church and attend. Many love the baby Jesus. Who wouldn’t? Babies are cuties. Aren’t they? And bar a few people, everyone loves babies. But why this much love for the “baby Jesus?” Simple. Because babies do not demand anything of us.
The baby Jesus does not demand that we deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Him. The adult Jesus does. He says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mt.16:24-25).
The baby Jesus does not demand that we seek God, the kingdom and the word first. The adult Jesus does. He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt.6:33).
The baby Jesus does not expose our sins and demand that we repent. The adult Jesus does. He says, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk.13:3).
The baby Jesus does not demand that we relegate to the background, our love for material things, in place of the more important spiritual things. The adult Jesus does. He says, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses” (Lk.12:15). “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt.6:19-21).
The baby Jesus does not demand that we love our enemies. The adult Jesus does. He says, “…love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” (Mt.5:44-45).
The baby Jesus does not demand that we stand for Him against all odds. The adult Jesus does. He says, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt.10:37). “He who is not with Me is against me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Mt.12:30).
The baby Jesus does not speak of the certainty of eternal punishment. The adult Jesus does. He says, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of glory…Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me’…And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Mt.25:31-46).
It is therefore easy to see why many love the baby Jesus as opposed to the adult Jesus. Many, however, seem to forget that the baby Jesus grew up. Friends, Jesus Christ is not “the reason for the season”. The celebration of Christmas is nothing but man-made religion gone to seed. Jesus Christ is the reason for our joy and hope, every minute, every hour and every day of the year, not just in December.
It needs be said that the adult Jesus makes a great invitation of mercy. He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt.11:28-30). How do we come to Jesus? By believing in God and in Him (Jn.14:1). By repenting of all our sins (Lk.13:3). By confessing faith in Him before men (Mt.10:32) and by being baptized unto remission of sins (Mt.28:19). Now is the time to say, “O Lamb of God, I come, I come”.
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