THE JOURNEY

 

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Luke 2:1-5

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child.

It is easy to overlook the small things. Caesar Augustus had no idea what was going on in tiny, conquered Judea. All he wanted was a tax registration; he ordered one, and that was the end of it. Augustus gave little thought to the impact of this registration, on the people of Judea.

Among those people burdened by this tax registration was a couple from Nazareth. Mary was “with Child”, in the late stages of her pregnancy, not the most ideal condition to be traveling. Still, Mary and Joseph obeyed the order, like many others, and headed to the city of David, Bethlehem.

Augustus may not have had any inkling of what was unfolding. But God did. This was the birth He had chosen for His own Son Jesus. Sure, God could have chosen another “cleaner, less messy” birth. Yet, it feels like something bigger is occurring in this birth story than initially meets the eye. Why else would the son of God be jolted and jarred along dirt roads as His mother walked or rode the long way to Bethlehem; why would it be that His mother's labor would begin at the worst possible time, before they had a decent place to stay; that the infant would be laid to sleep in a manger instead of a cradle. Is there some small yet meaningful detail we have overlooked?

I know there is the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy taking place, that underscores the faithfulness of God’s promises. That is rather important.

I wonder if the detail of the journey is what we need to sit with. Jesus journey to birth sounds a lot like a description of life, doesn’t it? Don’t you find that life is messy, we too are jolted and jarred along our paths, that the events in our life we often describe as occurring at the worst possible time, we may not lay our heads down in a manger, but we sure do have our share of uncomfortable, restless sleeps. My point today is, that Jesus journey to birth was yet another way we see him as fully human, even though he was God. His path and our path are not opposite, and therefore this baby in the manger, is able to identify and speak to the realities of life that we live with.

Looking at the Gospels I find, perhaps you note this too, in Jesus' eyes, no one is too small to matter, beyond the scope of compassion, not enemies, not the sick, not those with demons, not the poor or wealthy, not you, not me. I read this line recently, it says, “Jesus became small for us, so that He could be our Savior.” As Hebrews 4:5 says it,  Jesus was “like us in all things, except sin.”

My Advent devotions this year has been “God is in the Manger” based on thoughts and reflections of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I conclude today with a quote from him.

For the sake of humankind, Jesus Christ became a human being in this stable in Bethlehem. Rejoice O Christian! For sinners, Jesus Christ became a companion of tax collectors and prostitutes: Rejoice O Christian! For the condemned, Jesus Christ was condemned to the cross on Golgotha: Rejoice O Christian! For all of us, Jesus Christ was resurrected to life: Rejoice O Christian!!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come!! Amen.