Christmas Booklet: The Christmas Scene, Neal A Maxwell

This booklet was published by Bookcraft in 1994.  It presents some of Neal A. Maxwell's ideas about Christmas.  The theme that resounds in the booklet, is the irony of Jesus' life.  A few gifts were brought to the Savior, but the Savior was heavenly father's gift to all of us, and the Savior gave Himself of all.  Jesus was known as a Nazarene, but was of the lineage of David.  Joseph, a just man, endured hardship with regards to the nature of Jesus' conception.  However it was an angel who assured him.  Mary knew much more than she could tell.  And why was the son of God born in an obscure stable.  Having faith in Jesus implies we accept that he has done what he said.  That Bethlehem, Gethsemane and Golgotha complete the atonement and sacrifice for us all.  Jesus as Jehovah issued the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, yet was accused of violating the sabbath.  Jesus, the whole earth being his footstool, had not where to lay his head.  The Lord was before Abraham, but in saying so was threatened with stoning.  Jesus taught Moses, and gave the law.  He tried to remind people that Moses had written of Him.  And then the mob cried for Barabbas rather than Jesus, and asked that Jesus be crucified.  Such of life of irony.
Finally we should remember that Jesus' arm is always outstretched to us, His arms always open to receive us.