{"id":56,"date":"2012-12-20T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-20T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.195.124.95\/~redletu4\/who-stole-the-baby-jesus\/"},"modified":"2012-12-20T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2012-12-20T17:30:00","slug":"who-stole-the-baby-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/who-stole-the-baby-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Who stole the baby Jesus?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Jesus saves, but who\u2019s saving Jesus?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There have been a number of\u00a0<\/span>thefts<\/a><\/span>\u00a0at Nativity Scenes across the nation.\u00a0<\/span>It seems that\u00a0thieves\u00a0have been robbing the cradle, snatching baby Jesus from the watchful guard of angels, shepherds and parents. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without the baby, it\u2019s just a crowded barn scene. Mary suddenly looks out of place. She was stroking her promised child, now her hands are brushing air. Joseph, bowed in humble prose, now prays for a rapid return.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho stole our baby?\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

To combat the crimes, a company is offering\u00a0GPS tracking\u00a0<\/a>. The Christ-child gets a device implanted somewhere on his body. That way, if he is snatched,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the church can track him via computer or mobile phone and they can notify\u00a0<\/span>authorities.<\/span>
\"jesus-creche\"<\/span><\/span>

<\/span><\/span>My first question is \u201cwho would do such a thing?\u201d I\u2019ve done some silly things \u2013 \u2013 like taking my boys in the stealth of night to borrow a decorated metal deer from their Uncle\u2019s yard and relocating it to greener pastures \u2014 our lawn. We didn\u2019t tell him right away. He ended up called the police to report a crime. I had to sheepishly give up the deer and the manhunt was called off.<\/span>

<\/span>But robbing a Nativity Scene seems too underhanded. once the deed is done, what do you do with the little figure? You couldn\u2019t throw it away. And to give him away would elicit too many questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/span>Now once I got beyond the shock, and then the subsequent sarcasm, I had to ask another question.\u00a0<\/span>

<\/i><\/b><\/span>Who has stolen the baby Jesus from me?\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span>\n

<\/i><\/b>Looking in my personal nativity scene, the one in my heart, \u00a0I see lots of wonder and excitement, but no Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stars in the sky, looked down where he lay. But there is no Jesus in the hay.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hear the herald angels singing and\u00a0the\u00a0cattle lowing, but there is no Jesus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I see the star of wonder in the silent night, but no Jesus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where did he go, and how can I get Him back?<\/i><\/b><\/span>

<\/span>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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