Christmas Unwrapped

What will change the world for us? What would make our circumstances better? a million pounds, a girlfriend boyfriend or spouse, children, a better house or car. Do we know what would make us better off? Do we know what we need or just think we do? What or who are we waiting for to change the world for us? As we lead up to Christmas we reflect on the life changing effect that Jesus has. Historically, the arrival of Jesus made no impression on the nation of Israel. At that time in history, the Romans were still pulling the strings at the palace and at the temple in Israel and beyond. A baby being born was not what the Jewish people had been crying out for, they wanted a deliverer to break the occupation by Rome. However, a baby born to a poor provincial family who could only offer two pigeons to mark his birth, that was exactly what was needed. According to the Jews, the chosen one was to be the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace the one who would reign in power on David’s throne forever, perhaps born in a palace, but not a feeding trough. The messiah was to be a strong courageous leader who would ride victoriously into Jerusalem on horseback at the head of a mighty army, not as he did on Psalm Sunday on a borrowed donkey’s colt and hailed by children. What is our response to the Jesus who was born in a manger? God seems to delight in upsetting the balance of how we think things should be, he delights in making wise the simple and the simple wise. The big promises of liberation that the Jews thought God was making were not fulfilled. The small, vulnerable baby whom Simeon recognised and rejoiced in, this was the saviour to come, but he was not what the population expected. So now that Jesus has been revealed to us what is our part? What are we waiting for? Our prayers this month reflect this sense of anticipation tied up with the sense that God does not give us what we want, but what we need. A sinless suffering saviour who becomes a human being so that the curse of death may be lifted and we might be restored back into a relationship with a holy God. In week one we ask “What are we waiting for”, are we looking forward to the coming King or the helpless babe week two we look at the “small signs” that point to the coming Priestly King, his noble yet ignoble birth, his royal and priestly heritage, he is the son of Joseph (descendant of David) and Mary(cousin of a priest) and week three we take stock of what has happened in the “Coming of Jesus” as a babe, the Image of God made perfect in the Son of Man. reflecting on all that has gone on in the advent season in week four as we ask again “What are you waiting for”, but this time with the caveat, “get on with it”, live in the light of his glorious Kingdom, his glorious upside-down Kingdom.