I love British humor! So many wonderful programs have made the giant leap over the great blue pond: Keeping up Appearances, BlackAdder, Fawlty Towers, the Office, and of course, Monty Python. A favorite of mine through the years has been Mr. Bean. My wife just rolls her eyes whenever I suggest we watch some British comedy, but a guy can try, can’t he? One of my favorite Bean episodes is one where he celebrates Christmas. There is a scene in which he is in a local mall to buy a Christmas gift, and while there, decides to have a little fun with a manger scene, making it come to life in a rather unique way. Instead of me trying to explain it, I thought I would share it with you:
The last time I checked, I do not remember robots, dinosaurs, the Royal Military, and helicopters flying in angels as being a part of the birth of Christ. As silly as the scene above portrays the Nativity, it does raise an interesting truth: all creation bows before the birth of the King! As we proceed through the season of Advent and approach the Christmas manger once again, there is an important question everyone must ask, “What do you do with the baby?” What difference does Jesus have in how you live your life? Is He just a part of the manger scene you pull out each year or something more? Christmas isn’t about an event happening some 2,000 years ago, but it is an encouragement and promise to us that He is coming back once again. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in life that we miss out on the crying baby sitting before us who desires for us to grab hold of Him to see the difference living for Him can make.
After all, Jesus didn’t come simply to bring healing, He came to be the Healer! His entrance into the world didn’t come with fanfare or trumpets, but came in the quiet of night to a young man and woman named Mary and Joseph in a small town named Bethlehem. Listen to Luke’s powerful account of the birth of Jesus:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:1-7)
For your enjoyment (or maybe just mine), here is one of the famous scenes from Bean’s Christmas episode. It is Christmas Day and Bean is waking up to the wonder of the morning and begins to prepare the turkey for a meal with his girlfriend. The following scene is one that has been done several times through the years, but in my opinion, never as good as Bean.
Be near us, Lord Jesus!
N