by Pastor Judy with Pastor Bruce
Growing up, our family did not have a Christmas crèche (nativity scene). My freshman year in college I got the idea that my parents needed one for Christmas. So I bought them one, a good one, an expensive one that I paid a bit each month for four months before I finally paid it off and could bring it home. I think my parents were pleased. When my mom died, I inherited the crèche, complete with snow-covered barn. I used it to teach my sons about the birth of Jesus. This year it sits on the bottom shelf of our bookcase so that our grandson can begin to learn the story of Jesus.
At our annual GFC Christmas Party, we had a wonderful time with the Christmas story. We dressed up a variety of willing participants to play the necessary roles, and as Pastor Bruce and I read the nativity story, it came to life as our willing band of actors acted out the parts. It was a wonderful time of celebration and worship. Scenes like this play out all over the world as Christians celebrate the birth of Christ.
We love this celebration, but I wonder if in the midst of our retelling the story we often miss the horrific dangers encountered by “the Word becoming flesh.” We observe a simple, calm holiday without a hint of shame. Consider that Mary was troubled and afraid at the news: the angel told her she would be with child by the Holy Spirit. Out of wedlock pregnancy was scandalous and deserving of stoning to death as punishment. Often today, we don’t see this as a problem. For Mary it was dangerous and for Joseph it was humiliating. I wonder if Mary went with Joseph to be counted for the Roman census because Joseph was worried about what might happen to her if he left her with his family?
The political situation in Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth was anything but stable. King Herod was not a nice guy. When he found out that the Messiah was thought to be born in his territory, remember, he played nice to the magi, and when they didn’t return to him with news of where Jesus had been born, he ordered all of the baby boys under two to be slaughtered. Mary and Joseph with their baby fled as refugees to Egypt. Philip Yancy likens the political environment surrounding Jesus’ birth to that of Russia in the 1930s under Stalin.
Jesus is born without authority, privilege, riches or justice. What can we learn about “God with us” from the circumstances of his birth? Philip Yancy, in his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, carefully suggests four things. (1) We learn God is humble. He allows himself to be stripped down to the size of a human embryo and enter time in the form of a helpless baby. (2) God is approachable. He becomes one of us! He does life in a family and community where he moves and interacts readily with people, ordinary people. (3) Jesus demonstrates deep care and compassion for the underdog. He is available to everyone, but pays particular attention to those on the fringes, giving them hope and a future. (4) And finally he is courageous. Enemies of the Kingdom of God abound in his earthly existence, culminating ultimately in his public crucifixion, and still he came into the midst of humanity.
God is with you. Where is he in the midst of your life’s situation? How is he speaking to you in your circumstances? While God is with you, do you find yourself with God? Or are you holding him at a distance? Allow Jesus to come into your circumstances, to speak to you about the man or woman he has created you to be. Let Jesus dwell deeply with you. May you know Christ better and better in the year to come and learn to follow him where he leads.
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