December 25, 2025 – Christmas Text: Matthew 1:18-25
Dear Friends in Christ,
Baby blue. Traditionally the color for the room of the newborn male. One of the most popular of the blue hues and according to color experts it is “young, vibrant, and playful.” It’s a color that just makes you feel good. It should do the same today, we have got an infant to see, he’s male and we come into the presence of . . .
“BABY BLUE”
Today we are going to talk about a cornucopia of colors. As we step into the nativity, it is not simplicity of the setting that makes this place more regal than a nobles’ palace. This King of kings and Lord of Lords has been given his title by God himself. Into this baby blue setting we observe the pitch-black sins and blood-red offenses of his people that Jesus came to erase. We have the diamond dust of a starlit night, the gold of angelic heralds, and the silver of their sparkling news.
Matthew makes clear that Jesus is not just another baby blue baby born in the squalor of the times. He is the long-awaited Messiah, the chosen one of God, whom the prophets foretold, and the one apostles would proclaim.
Jesus was not conceived like all other children. “She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” (v. 18). Later he assures Joseph that he can take Mary as his wife, “but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.” (v. 25). It was a miraculous event. It was God entering into the human world to experience it in human form.
So, the King came as a baby. His kingdom was not of this world, but his infancy most certainly was. He was nursed and nurtured, caressed and cradled. He hungered, cried, needed a changing. He slept. Just imagine him smiling at his visitors.
He came to make a conquest of life and death with new life. His colors would not always be baby blue or even royal purple. The red blood of the cross would change these colors to the majestic hues of heaven. Jesus came to offer our world hope and peace. Jesus came so that our lives would be less blue and more royal.
The world turned a deaf ear to the “baby blue” infant of Bethlehem, just as later it plugged its ears to the “royal purple” Good News with the din of legalism and denial. The Lord keeps shouting for us to recognize him, to hear that the King has come and his name is Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us.” He keeps shouting that he loves us and seeks our membership in his royal family.
This Christmas we remember that baby blue is just a color swatch in time. Jesus grew from infancy to manhood, and from manhood to Saviorhood. He grew beyond the shades of human coloring to be the vivid Lord of all. From cradle to cross, from Bethlehem’s cave to calvary’s crucifixion, Jesus painted an image of God’s immense love for us. As Easter dawned and the conquest of death became complete, we thrilled to the golden sunrise that changed the color of life forever. Instead of dull and depressing, his victory gave life the brilliance of joy. If no longer baby blue, he has nevertheless shared with us the white that adorns the palace of eternity and made us through Baptism his brothers and sisters.
As we savor the goodness of his love in a simple wafer of bread and sip of wine, we recognize that Jesus imbues our lives with more than color – he offers forgiveness and love that never blur or fade or wash out.
Let us, then, like the shepherds, celebrate the miracle of Christmas and experience the baby blue of God’s grace and salvation. A Blessed Christmas to you!
Amen.