A Different Kind of Christmas: Expect a Miracle

Luke 4:16-21 GNB  Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures  (17)  and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,  (18)  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed  (19)  and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people."  (20)  Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him,  (21)  as he said to them, "This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read."

The time leading up to Christmas is often a time of wonder.   I’ve often wondered, like you have, just what does God looks like?  If God showed up today, how would I recognize it was God?  Or how about when you pray, how do you imagine God?  Is it the face of stern judge or that of a loving and concerned parent?  Is the God you wonder about a God who just cares about salvation and heaven or about the reality and struggles of life here and now?  Does God know how stressed you are about your grades, does he care about how tough it is in your family, or how excited you are about a possible promotion?

As we begin our journey to Christmas morning, let’s cut to the heart of this and admiit Jesus was not what or who people imagined God to be.  While today we acknowledge him to be God’s Son and of absolute power and authority, when he was born into the world it was a whole other story.  Born a Jew in the middle east under Roman control, his family escaped genocide to Egypt, only to return to a non-descript village, growing up as the son of a carpenter.  His life was spent associating with everyday folks and navigating the political and religious turmoil of his day, resisting power, corruption, consumerism and popularity.  This is why Jesus could say that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled.  Jesus lived it out.