The Graham-Cracker Crèche

Read on December 19

Story provided by Graylene

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” —Colossians 1:27

Graylene’s mom cherished the beautiful olive wood crèche she had purchased on a trip to Israel. Years later, after Graylene had children of her own, her mom gave her that special crèche. 

That nativity set became the first of many. Graylene began collecting crèches from the various places they would travel. The crèches represent memories of vacations, mission trips, and other travels.

Now she adds another special, albeit temporary, crèche. Each year, she gathers graham crackers, candies, and other treats so that she and her grandchildren can build a crèche of their own. 

There is something about “hands-on” work that creates memories. When you remember Christmases of the past, do you think about something you received or something you did? 

Graylene’s grandchildren can probably speak about every aspect of the Christmas story. They didn’t just hear about the baby in the manger; they held him in their hands. As a result, the story was embedded in their hearts and lives, and every Christmas the nativity displays are symbols of the Christmas story found in God’s word. All other stories of Christmas stand in the light of that story.

Jesus was only a few days old when his parents brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to make the required sacrifice for a newborn son. One of the most precious moments of the Christmas story isn’t depicted by a nativity set.

Scripture says that Simeon, an elderly man the Bible describes as “righteous and devout” (Luke 2:25), came “in the Spirit” to the temple. “When the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God” (vv. 27–28). 

There are very few moments more precious than holding a newborn infant in our arms, especially when that child is deeply loved. We can take the time today to experience the joy and blessing that Simeon felt when he reached out and received the baby, his Messiah. God has chosen to give us the tangible presence of our Messiah. We hold Jesus too because his Holy Spirit indwells our hearts and lives. 

We can make sure the people we love don’t just know about Jesus but also experience his Presence. No one should just celebrate Jesus during the Christmas season. Everyone can hold him in their hearts. 

That is the magnificent blessing of his birth and our rebirth.