Christmas Contemplations – Jesus Meets Us in the Mess
As we approach this most beloved of all holy days, I find myself filled with equal parts melancholy and child-like wonder and gratitude. Most of you can relate to the heartache of missing loved ones who have stepped into eternity over the last two years. In our church, we have had to endure the loss of one of our most faithful members as she entered her reward in Glory. But we have also rejoiced mightily this year as we have seen so many miracles, conversions, and little steps of faith that have added up to significant results!
This Christmas, we wanted to wish you all the Merriest of Holidays as we remember the profound imperfection surrounding the circumstances of our Savior's birth. In other words, a perfect God showed up in the middle of a big mess. Think of the issues that most people wouldn't abide:
Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths, the same that shepherds used to clean their sheep.
Mary gave birth to her first son in a borrowed manger after a 100-mile journey, surrounded by barnyard animals.
Mary and Joseph were young. Perhaps not more than fifteen or sixteen years old, unprepared for the duties of parenting.
They were also most likely peasant-class. Having very little wealth or resources to speak of.
Joseph made incredible sacrifices to care for and protect a woman and child that technically did not yet belong to him.
Ostracization and public scorn would have accompanied this young family because of the pregnancy occurring before their wedding day. The community would view Mary as a harlot, Joseph as a coward, and Jesus as illegitimate.
King Herod's paranoia drove him to murderous insanity, forcing our motley crew to flee to a foreign nation for a time. Joseph and Mary would likely have never been outside of a 100-mile radius. Now they would face the danger of a new culture, new food, new language, and new risks every day.
Jesus was also born while his people were suffering under the tyrannical rule of the Roman empire, not exactly a great time of Jewish prosperity.
All of this is to say that our Lord wasn't born into a perfect situation; rather, it was a mess. It was layer upon layer of messes that compounded into a conglomeration of stress and ambiguity regarding the future. And right there, hope for all humanity was born.
This hopeful aspiration still inspires me, that Jesus is not afraid of our messes. Every human life represents layers of confusion, strife, abuse, stress, anxiety, and heartbreak. I am grateful that he doesn't wait for us to clean up our acts before entering the Jerry Springer nightmares of our lives. He comes to us while the mess still remains.
This world is enamored with the idea of perfection, even though it remains insurmountable. Social media glamourizes the perfect smile, the perfect meme, the perfect body, the perfect family, etc. But let’s remember today that the only truly perfect thing in this universe is its Creator. And He did not turn His face from sinful humanity. In fact, He initiated salvation by sending His only Son into the world.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
I encourage you this Christmas, even if the house of your life is an untidy trash heap, allow the Savior in the front door when he comes a' knocking. You'll be glad you did since the truth is that no one can truly clean up his own life without Emmanuel.