Where's the line to see Jesus?

There's an immensely popular youtube music video out right now called, "Where's the line to see Jesus?" [Beware: it does contain violations of the second commandment!]  Its main character is a Christmas shopper, who, after seeing a line of children hoping to see Santa Claus, is approached by a young boy that asks her, "Where's the line to see Jesus?"  This question causes the woman great angst as she, presumably, recognizes that had been ignoring "the true meaning of Christmas," which is about the birth of Jesus instead of gifts and Santa Claus.  This tension is resolved at the end of the video, when she sings Christ's praises and speaks of His atoning death on her behalf, keeping Christ in Christmas.

While those that wrote the song are, no doubt, sincere in their desire to honor Christ (a wonderful thing that I don't wish to disregard!), I think it's worth engaging with it due to its popularity and the pervasive mindset that it represents.  You see, the video assumes that the 25th of December has some sort of inherent meaning related to Christ and his birth.  It does not.  God never instituted the day we call "Christmas."  It was originally a pagan festival on which Christians began to celebrate Christ's birth.  A person may use it as an extra opportunity to reflect on Christ's birth; I'm not going to get in the way of that.  It is important, however, not to confuse a man-made tradition with the only holy day instituted by God, namely, Sunday.  When we make a man-made tradition "Christian" (i.e., set apart to God), the error of the Pharisees has crept in.  But when Christmas is kept in its place, i.e., when we don't think it has some sort of inherent meaning that we need to fight for, we guard the significance of Sunday and avoid fighting pointless battles, e.g., "keeping Christ in Christmas."  If someone wants to truly honor Christ on the 25th of December, that person should assemble with the saints to hear the word and receive the sacraments.  This year, the 25th of December will truly be set apart for the celebration of Christ's birth because it will be a Sunday!

I think it's worth suggesting some answers that this poor, distraught woman could have given the young boy, though.  Here are a few I think could work (remember, the question is, "Where's the line to see Jesus?"):

1. Dear child-who-appeared-out-of-nowhere, you cannot see Jesus.  After he rose from the dead, He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus foretold that we would not be able to see Him (Jn. 20:29).  Peter also wrote, "Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).
2. Dear child (nice hair, by the way!), you cannot see Jesus in a bodily way right now.  But after you get older and make a profession of faith, you can get in the line to take the Lord's Supper.  The bread and wine are pictures of Christ's body and blood.
3. O child, at first your question really threw me.  You see, there will be a line to see Jesus one day.  Presently, He sits at the right hand of the Father.  After He returns, we will all be judged by Him.  If you have not trusted in Him for your forgiveness and righteousness, you won't want to see Jesus!

Interpreting parables

People I know have a "love/hate" relationship with New Testament parables.  Some people find them easier to understand than others.  In spite of this difference in opinion, there is still real commonality in the way most people view parables:

1. There is only one key point in a parable.
2. They are illustrations of heavenly/spiritual things with common things.
3. They are straightforward and unsurprising

This understanding of the nature of parables was put forward by Adolph Julicher in 1886 and is now commonly assumed to be true in many Christian churches.  But is it really a helpful and accurate paradigm?  Recent scholars like Craig Blomberg and Kenneth Bailey have demonstrated that it is not.  Consider, for example, the parable of the Prodigal Son.

1. One key point?  The "prodigal" tells us of our sin and the way a sinner may be freely reconciled to God.  The father tells us of God's extravagant love and grace.  The older brother depicts the dire situation of the legalist; they rely upon their goodness, cannot stand grace, and stand outside the loving fellowship of God.  It seems that there are a number of key points to the Prodigal Son, not just one.
2. Are all things illustrations of heavenly things?  Surely, God is being illustrated by a "father".  But how far do we push this?  Does the pig stye become something spiritual (e.g., the existential experience of a sinner before conversion?) or is it simply a part of the story?  Does the road back home refer to the inward journey of the soul?  What about the fact that the calf was fat?  Does it refer to the sacrifice of Christ in the fullness of time?  Caution needs to be taken in assuming that everything has a spiritual meaning.  Characters in a story should be allowed to use props without us drawing massive interpretive conclusions.
3. Are they straightforward and unsurprising? Isn't the father's hiking up his garments and running surprising?!  What about the fact that he actually gave his son his inheritance early?!  The surprises are there for a reason.  They inform us of what we are to read into and demand our interpretive focus instead of unsurprising elements like a road.

[I derived these insights from SM Baugh's class "Gospels and Acts" at Westminster Seminary California]