A Strange Way to Save the World

As I'm preparing for the holiday, I pop in Michael Crawford's 'Christmas Album.'  One of the tracks is called "A Strange Way to Save the World."  The lyrics beautifully describe the unassuming, yet perfect power that God brings his only son into the world.

God counters our preconceptions about status and order.  He flips human logic, by the divine truth of his all-compassing power and grace. 

Jesus, the Messiah to save all nations from their sins, a wonderful counselor and the great judge, a king and a servant, isn't born in a lofty palace.  Yes, Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus, is a descendant of King David...yet in spite of his royal lineage, Joseph is a simple man of trade, he doesn't have wealth and stature.  He is a hardworking and righteous man (see previous post)...Mary is a young girl, yet the faith and obedience of Mary and Joseph, their foundation in God's will makes them the ideal candidates to serve as Jesus's parents. 

God reminds us in choosing Mary and Joseph, that he doesn't judge based on wealth, power, accomplishment, but works to kindle our hearts to serve him and embrace the love and peace that Jesus provides.  We cannot be excused to think that our service isn't worthy, yes we are all weak creatures consumed with the flesh, yet even the most broken of souls and lost of sheep, God calls out of the darkness.  He uses his children, the least to the greatest to fulfill his purpose of restoration.  More importantly, God believing in us, yes he has faith that we can do infinitely more good than we can fathom, allows us to more humbly and boldly embrace our call to be Christians - actively preaching the Gospel, serving the poor, meek, sick, scared, apostate and apostle alike.  God's kindling fire sustains us so that we may serve and kindle the hearts of others around us we compassion and good cheer.

The entire night of the Nativity seems normal to us, because we know the story by heart, but if you analyze the details, doesn't it strike you as 'strange' that God's son, the Messiah would be born in a manger - a troth that animals eat out of, instead of a miracle of finding a bed somewhere in Bethlehem?

Unfortunately, it isn't strange in our world for God's 'children' to be left in the cold, no bed and mother's without a place to keep their children.  Many of us cry out for justice for those in need, but how often do we refuse to serve when the opportunity to aid a child of God in need appears.  Mary was on the verge of giving birth, yet no one would offer her a place to stay?  The circumstances and spiritual insight of this is multi-layered.  One God came to serve and to place his own son, the Messiah in the vulnerable fragility of the flesh, so he can share in our suffering and through that struggle set us from the burden of sin; it is a message of humility and God caring for the least to the greatest...there are many other spiritual truths, such is the complexity and divine mystery and simplicity of scripture and the Living Gospel of Christ....

Rereading the verse from Luke, describing Christ's birth...in the midst of the joy of the birth of our Savior, I hear a call - a call to social responsibility.  To aid our neighbor and tend the flock.  To allow God to be judge and for use to have compassion and peace, praying for active discernment from the Holy Spirit.  Being willing to stand up for the least and to serve them.  There are many mothers, though not carrying 'The Messiah,' who are struggling in their pregnancies and need hope and help.  Mothers in abusive relationships that need release and support - not judgment or pity - but active mercy - meeting their needs.  Foster children and orphans...the homeless who will go hungry on Christmas...Yes the poor may always be with us, yet we should not ignore the suffering yet tend them with the conviction and dedication Christ calls us to.

Even in my darkest places, when hope seemed small, I can rely on this scripture to lift me up.  Shepherds were a rowdy bunch, who smelled and drank...God sends Angels to shepherds to announce the birth of His son?  It seems a strange way to announce the birth of 'God made man.'  Yet once again God shows that he doesn't work by human conviction.  His understanding and wisdom, compassion and grace far extends the boundaries of the human heart and motives.  God came to save the Lost and even the shepherds were charged with tending the flocks were 'lost,' in soul.  God rejoices at the opportunity to bring us back into his fold.  Church is a hospital for sinners, not saints...God works through healing and the 'strange' - even in the birth of his son we find charges to love our neighbor, to forgive, to trust in miracles even in the lowliest of places.

I heard a sermon a few years ago about how God also wanted to place Christ into the most vulnerable of places, so that God in the birth of Jesus is dependent on man to care for him.  The baby Jesus relies on Mary and Joseph.  This demonstrates God's incredible love for us and his belief that even in our brokenness, we can yield service in his name.  It may seem a strange way to save the world, but God proves his glory and wisdom.  He makes all paths straight. 

Merry Christmas - Joy to the World that our Savior Reigns! 

"A Strange Way to Save the World" - You Tube

Reading:
Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

2:8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

2:9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

2:11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

2:17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;

2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.