The Not-So-Tidy Christmas Story, by Scott Lencke
Then Jesus and his family end up in both Egypt and Nazareth – two very despised places. Egypt was the old home of the Hebrew people. This was a land they had to be delivered from in foregone centuries under the great leader, Moses. And now God’s Messiah finds himself in Egypt. Despicable!
Nazareth. Remember Nathaniel’s response when Philip told him they’d found the one of which the Law and Prophets foretold – “Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:45-46). Despicable Nazareth!
This is the not-so-tidy Christmas story. The real story as it played out. I’m not sure we’ll be singing any carols about this any time soon. I’m not sure I’ve seen much of this played out in our Christmas plays.
And what I gather from reflecting on this story is how God continually does great works of grace and power through the despised, the hated, the non-elite, the ignoble, the outcasts. Remember, it is the cross of Christ that displays his power and wisdom (1 Cor 1:18-31). God always seems to do things in contrast to what we imagine as good and right. But he’s so passionate about these folks in the margins.
It’s not that God despises those with tidy lives. There is no inherent dislike of those who have much. Everything we have is a grace gift of God. But we must guard against thinking we have it all together – for we might just as easily lose it all. We must remember why we have been given so much – to be the hand of God in the lives of others. And we must remember this Christmas that the expectation is that God is ready to do beautiful things amongst the broken, down-trodden, despised, outcasts, sick, poor and all other mishaps in our own eyes. That’s how it happened 2000 years ago – not to mention before and after.
God fights for these folk. Christ proclaimed this in his first message in despised Nazareth – see Luke 4:14-22.
So put up a nice tree. Hang some beautiful lights. Enjoy some snowmen shaped cookies. Exchange lovely gifts. My family plans to participate in all of these. But let it not trump the not-so-tidy reality and truth of the advent of God’s kingly Messiah into our world. And look to extend your hand to the hurting and poor of our world – just as God has been doing from the beginning until this day.
This is the evangel we sing and proclaim.
Reprinted with permission of the author from his blog, Prodigal Thought.
Category: Living the Faith
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