Opus 2025-665: Advent Calendar: Day 10, Second Fiddle

For some reason, Mary seems to be the focus of attention when it comes to the birth of Jesus.  One of the reasons might be that she was His mother.  Another might be the miracle of the Virgin birth.  But there was someone else there, someone else involved.  That was Joseph.

It might do for most of us to identify more with Joseph than any other character involved in the Christmas story.  He has a kind of a bit part, but he is vital.  His character and his willingness to listen to God made him essential and allowing Mary to have the baby Jesus.

Matthew 1:20 (KJV) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Of course God chose him just as He chose Mary.  I wonder if in reality He didn’t prepare him for this.  When you go through the genealogies, you find that both Joseph and Mary trace their ancestry back to David.  There had to be some preparation in order to have these two come together at the right time.  God had to be sure that both Mary and Joseph would have the right character to be faithful to their calling.

I personally think it would be more fun to be one of the angels broadcasting the news from the skies.  I might like the prestige of being one of the wise men.  I don’t think I’d want to be a shepherd.  What God needs is more Joseph’s.  He needs more of us willingto serve faithfully, to step up when needed, and rest in the shadows when someone else is the main character.

May you find your place of service this year.

Merry Christmas.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-356: Advent Calendar: Day 22, Purpose Driven Holiday

Behind day 22's door you find a cross.  This is a reminder of why Jesus came.  He did not come to give us an excuse for another holiday.  He did not come to boost the economy.  

He came to die.

That is not an easy thought.  Babies generate all kinds of positive thoughts except during labor and delivery.  They are cute and cuddly.  Sometimes they are planned.  Sometimes they are a surprise.  In this case the due date was established at the beginning of time and committed to in the Garden when Adam and Eve sinned.  

I remind you the words of the angel to Joseph.

(Mat 1:21 KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

While Emanuel means “God with us”, Jesus means savior.  A savior assumes someone needs to be saved.  Where there is a need, God provides and in this case the only provision worthy was His Son.

We are just days away from the celebration.  I trust that you will celebrate the promise by knowing it has been fulfilled in your life.

Merry Christmas.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-333: Advent Calendar: Day 10, Jilted Joseph

Behind door ten you find a lawyer.  Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant and he knew he was not the father.  I can’t imagine the sense of loss he was feeling.  In spite of his pain and anger he was still going to do the right thing.

(Mat 1:19 KJV)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

You think you got problems.  

God had a solution.  He sent an angel special to Joseph to explain the situation.  We hear a lot about what a wonderful young lady Mary was, I think Joseph was right up there in line for sainthood also.

If things are not going the way you expect then as the saying goes, grab hold, buckle up, hunker down and enjoy the ride.  Keep in mind who is in the drivers seat.

homo unius libri

Opus 2021-248: A Day of Big Words

Years ago I was in a theology class and the professor introduced the theological terms imminence and transcendence.  One speaks about the omni nature of God.  The other term reminds us that God is with us.  For some reason I have remembered the terms for over forty years and I still don’t know which is which.  

They come together when we celebrate Christmas.  This is expressed many different ways in the Bible.  The Gospel of John has none of the birth narratives but deals with the theological undergirdings.  John starts with the eternal nature of Jesus.

(Joh 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And then he points out the incarnation,

(Joh 1:14 KJV)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matthew got down in the dust and put it in language even children can grasp.

(Mat 1:23 KJV)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

If you want to get distracted by the date, have a good time.  If you want to complain about the materialism that dominates Christmas gift giving, I can understand.  It we think that traditions like the Christmas tree spring from pagan roots, I won’t argue with you.  All I ask is that you then take a deep breath and remind yourself,

(Gal 4:4-5 KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

You have had almost 2,000 years to get over it.  So Merry Christmas, Festive Fullness of Time Day, Emmanuel, or whatever you need to hear to get in the spirit of celebrating the Incarnation.  

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-344: Why the 25th? Why not?

What are the odds that Jesus was born on December 25?  I would guess about 1/365.  He was born.  He lived.  He died.  He rose again.  That you can take to the bank but we do not know the actual day. 

There are other things we do not know about Jesus.  We do not know what He looked like.  There is no physical description.  He was a He.  He was healthy enough to do a lot of walking.  Beyond that there is nothing but guesswork. 

We do not know what He liked to eat.  We do not know His favorite colors.  We don’t know if He liked traditional or contemporary music.  We don’t know if He was a KJV man or into the NIV.

There is a reason for that kind of ignorance.  It forces us to focus on the real issues instead of developing a bunch of superstitions and traditions based on fools’ gold.  Recently I heard a podcast talking about the opening of Jesus’ tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.  The speaker, William Lane Craig, who is usually very scholarly was positively giddy about being able to see into this tomb.  He gave a run-down of the history of the spot and felt like it could very well be the real tomb of Jesus.  I hope not.  We don’t need another “holy spot” for the gullible to rush to for some magical cure.  If you want to read what National Geographic has to say it is consistent with what Craig had to say.

What we need to know, we know.  We do know why He was born.  It is wrapped up in His names.

(Matthew 1:21 KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(Matthew 1:23 KJV)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

So keep in mind what we do know and what we don’t.  What we know is important.  What we don’t is not.  If you don’t want to celebrate Christmas because the date is associated with a pagan holiday then pick a day to remember, mediate on and celebrate the incarnation.  And don’t look too deep because whatever day you pick you will probably find that pagans are doing something too.

Merry Christmas and Happy Incarnation.

homo unius libri

Opus 31, Glorious Incarnation Day

I have a large and diverse selection of Christmas music on my I-pod.  I have everything from the Nutcracker Suite to “Percy, the Puny Poinsettia.”  I shuffle them every couple of days.  The one that caught my attention today was called “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle.”  It was some nonsense about Santa and Jack Frost and a catchy little tune but the words that jumped out at me were:

    “The bell that couldn’t jingle, it had nothing there inside.”

Do you have a hard time with Christmas.  It could be one of at least two reasons based on this thought.  First, it could be that your Christmas has nothing inside.  You may be so distracted by all the man generated trappings around Christmas that you don’t see the core of eternal truth.  Men are clever.  We have come up with some glorious diet celebrations but when you come down to it there are no nutrients in man made Christmas.  The is a celebration of the perfect Lamb becoming the perfect Man so that we could find salvation.

(Matthew 1:21 KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Second, you might not have anything inside.  Jesus came to die for you sins and be resurrected for your eternal hope.  Have you embraced that?  If not, it is no surprise you have a hard time with Christmas.  I occasionally have long discussions at breakfast with a man who has lost almost all of his hearing.  Once in a while he forgets his hearing aids.  It is an exercise in frustration.  It doesn’t matter how brilliant I am, he can’t hear a word.  Nothing I say has any effect except the few words he can lip read.  You might need to put in your hearing aids to understand what is being said at Christmas.

(John 1:12 KJV)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Merry Christmas, or if you can hear it, Glorious Incarnation Day.