Our God must be crazy. As I reflect on the birth-narratives of Jesus I can’t help but wonder what God was thinking. Seriously though –what? God, a holy infinite being, willingly becomes a finite human – something God created Himself. I’m not sure there are any great analogies for this, much like there are no great analogies for explaining the trinity, but I’ll try anyway. A humanly example for me of God becoming finite is the thought of the richest person in the world choosing to give up all of his or her money and living impoverished in a third world country and then somehow out of that making everyone in the world rich. (I know this is not the best example. Especially since money does not bring happiness, but I think from a human standpoint it proves well.)
I’m not sure after sending a bunch of prophets to tell the people of Israel that they need to get things right, that my next idea would be to send a baby boy into the world. But, this is how God rolls. How risky is a human baby? Well, it needs more nurturing than any other animal on the earth before it is able to act on its own.
Jesus’ birth is no normal story either. Actually, it seems like one of those stories you tell where everything that happens in the story goes wrong. The fluffy nativity scenes and our grandiose pictures of Christmas really diminish the craziness of all that was going on. Let’s see: a baby out of wedlock (which was far more promiscuous than it is in today’s society –even to the point of stoning to death), a long journey to another town: Bethlehem (because of a census), they travel to Bethlehem unmarried and expecting, a baby born in the barn out back, a bunch of scandalous shepherds bringing great news to the masses, murder of children, an escape to another country, and after the death of Herod finally return to their home town. Before Jesus can really act on his own, his life is full of scandal, danger, and excitement.
Jesus’ birth narratives really capture the essence of God and the hope that is. During this advent season I wait for the one called Emmanuel.
I’m not sure after sending a bunch of prophets to tell the people of Israel that they need to get things right, that my next idea would be to send a baby boy into the world. But, this is how God rolls. How risky is a human baby? Well, it needs more nurturing than any other animal on the earth before it is able to act on its own.
Jesus’ birth is no normal story either. Actually, it seems like one of those stories you tell where everything that happens in the story goes wrong. The fluffy nativity scenes and our grandiose pictures of Christmas really diminish the craziness of all that was going on. Let’s see: a baby out of wedlock (which was far more promiscuous than it is in today’s society –even to the point of stoning to death), a long journey to another town: Bethlehem (because of a census), they travel to Bethlehem unmarried and expecting, a baby born in the barn out back, a bunch of scandalous shepherds bringing great news to the masses, murder of children, an escape to another country, and after the death of Herod finally return to their home town. Before Jesus can really act on his own, his life is full of scandal, danger, and excitement.
Jesus’ birth narratives really capture the essence of God and the hope that is. During this advent season I wait for the one called Emmanuel.
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