Follow the Star

Saturday night, we literally followed THE STAR!
Not a twinkle on top of a tree -- not a glittering yard decoration -- but THE Star — Jesus. The One who came from heaven to earth and now leads us all the way home again.

We attended the Follow the Star outdoor production at Good Shepherd Church -- a sacred walk-through of ten living scenes from the life of Christ. Not just His birth in a manger, but the whole breathtaking story -- the angel’s announcement to Mary, the Nativity, the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, betrayal and trial, the Cross, the Resurrection, and finally -- the Ascension. And it all ended with a modern family gathered around a living room, reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.

Carl and I walked through it with our dear friend Lee, and our nieces and their friends -- along with four precious little ones riding in a wagon, pulled by their daddy. Those little ones were absolutely mesmerized. And when “Jesus” appeared in one of the scenes, they weren’t frightened or confused -- one bright little voice simply called out, “Hi Jesus!”

Oh, my heart. These sweet children already know Jesus -- their mom and dad talk about Him all the time -- the ONE who loves them so much. The ONE -- who said, "Let the little children come to me!" (Matthew 19:14)

They didn’t see a character.
They saw Someone they knew.

Each scene held them. Every moment mattered. And at the final scene, as the family actors read the Christmas story, I quietly slipped in beside that precious group of children. We stood shoulder to shoulder -- generations wrapped into one holy moment -- listening again to the story that changed the world.

And that’s Christmas, isn’t it?

Not just sweet baby Jesus in a manger -- but Savior on a cross -- Redeemer from the grave -- King returning to glory. The Nativity isn’t the whole story -- it’s the beginning of the greatest rescue ever written.

We follow the Star not just to Bethlehem -- but to Calvary -- to the empty tomb -- to the promise of eternal life.

Jesus is not “here today, gone tomorrow.”
He is here always -- from cradle to crown.

The Star still shines. The Savior still saves. The story is still true.