I Dropped Baby Jesus

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esult, the sons of Abraham couldn’t seem to wrap their minds around the concept of Him as their Messiah. I wonder, then, what is the church’s view of Jesus? Have we tried to make him safe? Have we tried to create a version of Jesus that is explainable? If so, in doing, have we truly given the world an accurate picture of a God-of-mystery? A God who will take a lifetime to understand and to know? I’m afraid I might be guilty of wanting to make Jesus so desirable that I attempt to make him explainable. Yet, the bottom line is that I don’t want an explainable, comprehendible, live-up-to-my-expectations Jesus. I want a God who is approachable, yes! I want a God who loves me, yes! I want a God who cares and reaches out to touch and embrace and draw near, absolutely! Yet, I want a God of mystery. I want a Jesus who doesn’t fit any box of thought or expectation. I want Jesus to be so big, He’s unexplainable, for if I can explain Him - He ceases to be God. If I minimize His mystery, I no longer need Him. Indeed, I NEED HIM too much for this to be the case. May I always marvel at His mystery, and help others to do the same! I hope I never figure Jesus out... Reflect more on this thought as Christmas draws closer still…What is your picture of Jesus? 36
Thursday, Christmas Eve - It’s Complicated! This morning, I've been thinking about all the complications surrounding the birth of Jesus. Just think with me - Mary was pregnant out of wedlock. She was under threat of stoning. Hanging over Mary's head was the question of whether or not Joseph would believe her, divorce her, or throw her to the wolves to be judged and executed... Joseph had to wrestle with the same question, then when he thought he'd finally decided.... Joseph was asked to sacrifice his reputation to take Mary home as his bride. The gossip they endured because of this alone was severe, but add to that the curiosity that raised people's eyebrows when Joseph and Mary claimed the child was "born of the Holy Spirit, would save people from their sins, and was, in fact, the long-expected Messiah..." In Mary's last days of pregnancy they had to make a long, and unplanned trip to register for tax purposes, along with a huge crowd. There was no easy way to travel, so they went by donkey. Along the way, Mary went into labor. We think the lines at the grocery store are long this time of year - I can't imagine the lines in Bethlehem that year with everything recorded by hand in the "old-fashioned" way. There were no rooms available, no doctor or mid-wife, no epidurals or pain meds, only straw, the undercurrent of noisy barn-animals, and a feeding trough. Once the child was born, they were forced to move frequently, literally overnight, as the result of angelic-sleep-interrupted dreams. Their lives were in danger - often. Baby boys two and under were slaughtered as King Herod tried to wipe out the potential political threat of another King who might usurp him (Mary and Joseph had to feel the weight of that horrific event). All this to say, Jesus' birth-story was not easy for His earthly parents. Even by the time Mary & Joseph reached the eve of the birth of God's Son, it had been difficult enough. I wonder then - just what was running through their heads? I'm thinking I'd be screaming, "I didn't sign up for ALL THIS! I take it back! I'm not your woman!” HOWEVER...I expect, even in their humanness, this was not the response from this young couple. I imagine they had to be doing, just what we need to be doing, when life is hard, confusing, unplanned, and the road ahead extraordinarily foggy: they were remembering. (My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember...Psalm 42:6b) 37
Page 1 and 2: I Dropped Baby Jesus An Advent Devo
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 Su
Page 5 and 6: Sunday, Nov 29 - What If? John 15:2
Page 7 and 8: Tuesday, Dec 1 - Repent for the Kin
Page 9 and 10: season to reflect on your own Jesus
Page 11 and 12: Friday, Dec 4 - In the Wait Once ag
Page 13 and 14: Sunday, Dec 6 - Peace on Earth This
Page 15 and 16: Tuesday, Dec 8 - O Come Let Us Ador
Page 17 and 18: Thursday, Dec 10 - What DID Mary Kn
Page 19 and 20: Friday, Dec 11 - What Do I Know? I
Page 21 and 22: Saturday, Dec 12 - Advent is Near!
Page 23 and 24: Monday, Dec 14 - Pregnant With the
Page 25 and 26: Wednesday, Dec 16 - I’ll Be Home
Page 27 and 28: Friday, Dec 18 - Every Knee Shall B
Page 29 and 30: Am I? If I'm a Mary, then I am a su
Page 31 and 32: Monday, Dec 21 - Who Am I (3)? So f
Page 33 and 34: Tuesday, Dec 22 - Who Am I (4)? Som
Page 35: Wednesday, Dec 23 - Jesus Didn’t
Page 39: Thursday, Christmas Day - He Came f

I Dropped Baby Jesus

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