While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 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. Luke 2: 6-7 NRSV
The Gospel of Luke is traditionally known to be written by a physician. However, because we have no signed originals, this is really a bit of faith-based guesswork on our part.
Personally, I cannot believe that the person who penned these two verses had ever participated in any kind of birth - human or animal - except their own.
The verses make it seem like the entire birth was calm, straight-forward and blessedly quick. It could have been, I suppose. But I don't think it was a truely silent night. At the very least, the baby Jesus must have cried at least once!
Perhaps writing about the messy, painful and scary parts of birthing were always far removed from polite company such as the Theophilus to whom the book is addressed. Certainly all of our pageants, nativities and modern manger scenes are incredibly neat and tidy. However, Luke never holds back on the messy, bloody and horrible scenes from Jesus' death.
God, remind us this season that Jesus entered into the real world - one that is messy, chaotic and often horrible. Thank you that he entered in and continues to enter in today! In His name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label birth of Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birth of Christ. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Happy Holidays??
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne. Revelation 12: 5 NRSV
We don't think of the Christmas story as being in the book of Revelation. However, Revelation is talking about Jesus here in chapter 12. In fact, we get his whole life in one sentence: he is born to rule but is taken to heaven.
Why is he taken to heaven?
To protect him from the dragon that is waiting to devour him. Because Revelation is really written in code, we must ask ourselves what the dragon is or represents. The dragon seems to be an earthly ruler - perhaps an emperor of the Roman Empire.
John seems to be saying that Jesus, God's ruler of the Kingdom of Heaven, was in danger of being swallowed up by the earthly powers and princes. The government was truly after him - and they did execute him - but he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven.
And we thought saying "Happy Holidays!" was taking Christ out of Christmas!
God, we often say it but help us to mean it: let us keep Christ in Christmas. In His name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
We don't think of the Christmas story as being in the book of Revelation. However, Revelation is talking about Jesus here in chapter 12. In fact, we get his whole life in one sentence: he is born to rule but is taken to heaven.
Why is he taken to heaven?
To protect him from the dragon that is waiting to devour him. Because Revelation is really written in code, we must ask ourselves what the dragon is or represents. The dragon seems to be an earthly ruler - perhaps an emperor of the Roman Empire.
John seems to be saying that Jesus, God's ruler of the Kingdom of Heaven, was in danger of being swallowed up by the earthly powers and princes. The government was truly after him - and they did execute him - but he was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven.
And we thought saying "Happy Holidays!" was taking Christ out of Christmas!
God, we often say it but help us to mean it: let us keep Christ in Christmas. In His name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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