The purpose of this lesson: To focus on the unusual nature of Jesus birth event and the basic message of Jesus human existence/experience.
At times God acts in ways that make us quite uncomfortable. When He acts in those ways, we tend to romanticize the event or the circumstances. By making the circumstances or event different, we usually seek to ease our discomfort, make Gods act more compatible to our concept or image, and make everything fit for our sakes. The problem: we are likely to miss the point.
The objective of God when He breaks into our physical existence is to reveal something of Himself or His will. It is not to make us comfortable with our expectations.
Consider Jesus birth as an example. Though there were numerous events, typically we have the shepherds and the wise men arriving about the same time at the birth event. Typically, we have decided there were three wise men because there were three giftsone gift for each wise man.
Typically, people view Jesus birth event from perspectives that make us comfortable with Gods deed. Too often, if people saw the event as it was, they would react by saying, God would not do that! The focus is more on our expectations than on His message.
From one statement, Luke 2:7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn typically we have decided there were animals present (even figured out what animals were there), that it was a clean stall (have you ever seen a dirty manger scene?), that there was a lot of clean straw to use, and that the infant Jesus had his first bed in a hay rack.
Consider all the ways our imaginations and expectations embellish that one statement.
There are questions never asked. How long was Mary in labor? Who delivered the infant Jesus? Who were the all in Luke 2:18? Was the telling confined to that night or did it last for days? Were the eight days of impurity for Mary (Luke 2:21; Leviticus 12:2-4) spent in the stable? If not, where did they go? The entire process for purification took almost two months (Luke 2:22; Leviticus 12:6-8). Where did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stay during this period?
We do much to emphasize Gods involvement in the event in ways that are compatible with our view of God and that remove the event from typical happenings at a birth. The only unusual thing about Jesus birth is his conception, not his gestation period or his delivery. Unusual things transpired at Jesus delivery, but the delivery was usual.
According to the law, if Joseph and Mary offered in sacrifice two turtledoves or two young pigeons, this is further indication of their poverty.
This was a birth into a poverty lifestyle and situation.
Only in Jesus birth do religious people consider a virgin birth possible. Only in Jesus birth do religious people consider pregnancy outside of marriage a good thing. Rarely do religious people focus on the fact that Joseph was intending to divorce Mary (Matthew 1:22, 24) until he understood that God wanted him to marry her. (The child was not his!)
Christians only honor out-of-wedlock conception and contemplation of divorce in Jesus birth event. Only in Jesus birth event do Christians regard a claim of virgin conception to be unquestionable. In all those things, Christians would voice questions and objections in any other circumstance.
Was the place Jesus was born clean? Perhaps, but it is speculation. Was there lots of straw? Perhaps, but it is speculation. Was Jesus first bed a hay rack? Not likely. Was Jesus just mysteriously born with no one assisting Mary? Not likely. Did the shepherds arrive at or about the same time as the wise men? No. Did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stay in the stable for over two months? Not likely.
It is amazing how we fill in the event with speculation and regard the speculation to be fact. Speculation is not undesirable unless speculation pretends to be fact.
Here we have one of Gods agents in creation (Colossians 1:15, 17; John 1:3) appearing as a created being in the environment he made. Though nothing that exists was made without him, he first appears on earth in a place where animals are kept. The stall likely smelled of animal urine and feces. It was not the environment for the birth of any human! The contrast between who he was and where (and how) he first appeared on earth is almost too much for human thinking to grasp! The agent of creation born in an animal stall? Get real!
The power of Jesus birth event is seen in what we would regard an unlikely contrast. The transition from a heavenly existence to birth in an animal stall is transition from the highest high to the lowest low.
Only a unique God would allow something like that to happen! Only a unique God would use a pregnant, engaged, unmarried girl to be the human mother of His son. Only a unique God would use a man considering divorce (the only Jewish way to break an engagement) to serve as the human father of His son.
The circumstances around Jesus birth event emphasize Gods uniqueness.
Jesus came to be different. The physical world is a world in which evil and good clash. Jesus came in our circumstances to reveal to us by example what it would look like for a person to be dedicated to God without evil. In this event, God began by showing us that righteousness is not about wealth, privilege, or place. Honoring God is not about wealth, privilege, or place.
From Genesis 6:5, 6 we have the unfolding of the human journey from the depths of sinfulness to righteousness through an act of God in Jesus Christ. Human recovery from the depths of sin was a winding, often twisting journey. The intent of God never changed. The cooperation of people who were supposed to belong to God too often was far less than helpful. Often human sinfulness opposed Gods intent.
God used what humans valued to emphasize His worthiness (consider Exodus 35 and Deuteronomy 12:114). In Jesus, God emphasized what He values. As should be expected, what God values and what people value are radically different. Gods values are not emphasized by wealth, privilege or place.
Even godly people commonly associate honoring God with wealth, privilege, or place. Can you imagine honoring God without using a church building? Can you image honoring God in a shack when we as Christians could afford a magnificent structure? Can you imagine building a church building in the worst geographical place imaginable?
Christians still tend to associate honoring God with wealth, privilege, and place. We still want to stress our values rather than Gods.
Gods people, often by Gods command, used wealth, privilege, and place to honor God. However, from the beginning of Jesus life until its end, the message from Jesus is consistent. Honoring God is not about wealth, privilege, or placeit is about hearts of repentance, lives of faith, and treatment of people. Honoring God is about letting God rule youeven if it involves birth in an animal stable, a physical existence of sacrifice, and a death of pain. The foundation of honoring God is what is in a persons heart, motives, and compassion. The human kindness of consideration honors God (Matthew 12:6 and Hosea 6:6).
It is easy to miss the point by associating honoring God with wealth, privilege, and place. For people who have received the Christ, honoring God is about allowing God to rule you as you commit yourself to His values. Gods values are seen in repentence, faith, and the nature of our interaction with people. These are expressed in actions characterized by heart response, godly motives, and compassion.
We sacrificially serve Gods rule by placing Him in charge of all we are and all we do.
The objective is to exemplify Gods rule in human life.
For Thought and Discussion
1. At times God acts in ways that make us feel what?
Gods actions often make us feel uncomfortable.
2. When Gods actions make us feel uncomfortable, what do we often do?
We tend to romanticize the event or circumstances.
3. Enumerate typical responses to Jesus birth event.
a. Typically we have the shepherds and wise men arriving at the same time.
b. Typically we think there were three wise men because there were three gifts.
c. Typically we assume that there were animals present.
d. Typically we assume that the stall was clean.
e. Typically we assume that there was lots of straw available.
4. What are some questions we rarely ask?
a. Who delivered Jesus?
b. Who were the all in Luke 2:18?
c. Did the telling continue past the night of Jesus birth?
d. Where did the family stay in the time of Marys purification?
5. What challenging contrast exists in Jesus birth event?
An agent in Gods creation appears as a created being in an environment he made.
6. Only a unique God would allow what?
a. A pregnant, engaged, unwed woman to be Jesus mother.
b. A man considering divorce to function as Jesus earthly father.
7. Honoring God is not about what?
It is not about wealth, privilege, or place.
8. From the beginning of Jesus life until its end, Jesus life and message is what?
It is consistent.
9. We sacrificially serve Gods rule by doing what?
We place God in charge of all we are and all we do.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7