Because no one encounters the saviour this close without having their little loves tampered with.

I mean, ask Herod, the coming of Jesus drove him to a declare a genocide (Matt 2:16) power was at stake, we are also told the rich young ruler went away sad at the claims of Jesus “because of his great wealth.” (Matt 19:22)

Even the group condemning the woman caught in adultery silently stared down their dusty feet at the words “let who has no sin cast the first stone”. (John 8:7)

There’s more.

In an encounter with the King of Kings, another group decided to feign ignorance of it all and spoke back, “If we say he is the king of the Jews.. if we say … so they answered, we don’t know.” ( Matt 21:27)

If our son of God version only arrives in purple sheets and wool, if this saviour is only a lamb under smoke machines and kitchen corners, rather than the Lion of Judah that wars for us against sin,

then,

this Jesus only qualifies as good company on our December expeditions, he barely painfully alters any of our distorted loves, if at all.

And you could add, that’s often why Christmas eventually becomes a burden for those who don’t willingly first embrace the burden it brings, namely — Christ against our pseudo-salvation projects.

But should we be surprised? If this cute version of a saviour is the kind we have often carried alongside our “year of self-fulfilment” why should we suddenly transform on Christmas Day?

If our version of harmless-toddler -Jesus hasn’t threatened our financial savings all year long, why should he this Christmas?

We will certainly keep up with our editable Jesus. In fact, You and I can improve this list with areas our domesticated Jesus hasn’t threatened throughout this year.

Christmas is a reminder that if we continually keep our cute idols away from the soon coming King, we will and may not encounter him at all? December and beyond.

If Christmas day only comes through lunch demonstrations and neat neckties, we should be worried. For morning joy will not come until sorrow has lasted for the night.

Night’s sorrow in exposing our soul’s dark corners to the scriptures, and morning joy in experiencing true Christmas joy that flows from beholding the one who promises to clean up what he exposes.

But now that Satan (whose 2000 year experience in hiding hooks and presenting baits) has succeeded in lacing many with the toxin of self-sufficiency, Santa-driven Christmas day enthusiasts are often no match for him.

And perhaps those are the reasons true Christmas excitement often remains elusive until we’ve embraced its offense.

Namely.

Jesus, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John1:29) and the Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5) – that growls before we grin.