In terms of general preamble to the main event of Jesus’ birth, the
Gospel writers vary massively in their approach: From Matthew’s version of
events before, which reads like a Holy Debrett’s with Jesus’ descendants
listed, generation for generation, through to Mark’s description of John the Baptist
preparing the way and no inclusion of the Nativity itself. For those who like a
more metaphysical angle, there is John with the Logos as John 1: 1-18 is
referred in theological circles, which again omits the Nativity but describes
at length the notion of God manifest in the Word, a coming Messiah and how the
world would not recognise him on arrival. Finally there is Luke, from which all
of the details of angels, Shepherds, innkeepers, and wise men stem. What is exciting
about each of these accounts is that they point to an event like no other and
also give us different ways in which we can count the days.
Matthew’s lengthy genealogy of Jesus is more than a
selection of tongue-twisting names. The roll-call posits Jesus’ identity and
places him as the conclusion to not just a family line but an ancient prophesy.
As we in modern times often spend an awful lot of time unpicking and dissecting
the various aspects of our identity, we would be wise to realise we are part of
a bigger picture. Whether one is from an illustrious line that raises eyebrows
or not, we all have our individual part to play in God’s grander purposes and
could do well to reflect on that more rather than the minutiae in our own lives.
Mark’s description of the role John played gives us a master
class in Divine Warm-Up act work. At a concert, the warm up points to what’s
coming next. Usually, the act is of similar genre to the main one everyone’s
expectant to see. I myself often discover the next band or singer who is going
to feature heavily on my iPod during this part of the gig. However, they rarely
supplant the act I had come to see in the first place. It is the same with the
Christian walk. We are called to prepare for the main act: Christ’s return
whilst not taking the focus from that reality and thinking of ourselves as the
main event and viewing our life and its concerns and our contribution to his
Kingdom trumping the perfection of his return. In practical terms it means
being a little less self centred and perhaps asking oneself the rhetorical
question: if my life was the warm-up to Christ’s Return how would it fare in
terms of setting the tone? Cheers, jeers or something in between?
Luke’s introduction tackles the very human challenges of
choosing to follow Jesus. Gabriel’s visitation to what I often imagine was a
terrified Mary, has an interesting verse in its midst;
“Do not be afraid Mary,
you have found favour with God.” Luke
1:30
Fear is often at the root of our not moving forward to our
blessings. Sometimes, we might devise an elaborate and detailed argument as to
why we choose to do or not do certain things. However, in this verse, is a
truth for all believers to hold on to ‘you
have found favour with God’. One is not last on the list of his concerns,
but a priority, and given we all know how the story ends, with death defeated
in Jesus’ resurrection, it is vital to hold onto. As we move towards the close
of a year and the beginning of a new one, perhaps it would be time to try and
kick the fear habit for good.
John’s opening chapter takes us to the heavenly places: we are
told that:
“The true light that
gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9
In many parts of the world, electricity remains a luxury.
And yet God is ever generous and provides us all with light, regardless of our worthiness,
or finances or social position. What’s more, his is a light that never
extinguishes and illuminates our interior beings or souls. It is so easy to
forget in the fog of preparation for a season of extended merriment exactly who
is coming and for what purpose. Time for reverence praise and perhaps even a
spot of advent candle lighting in between the endless to-do lists that will
seem a lifetime ago come January.
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