The nativity scene is a staple in Christmas decorations. Even if you are not of the religious sort, you likely know about this depiction of Mary, Joseph, and their brand-new baby, Jesus, the son of God. Nativity comes from a form of the Latin word, nasci, which means “to be born,” and later into nativitas, which means “birth.” So, over the next 4 weeks, we’ll unpack some realities around this idea as alluded to in the title of the series, how a devastating event or experience can turn into something magnificent and unimaginably good, as good as the birth of a new baby.
For this first message, we’ll look directly into the sun, quite literally metaphorical. (I’m not sure if you can use those together but it works here so we’re going with it.)
In a culture where women are more seen than heard and possessed more than appreciated, purity was vital. To be a virgin was not a only sacred status but a social one. This purity was not just a private personal choice but a religious standard and a societal demarcation. To NOT carry this label would be a definitive degradation on one’s character and a detriment to future marital opportunity.
So, it was quite a catastrophe, then, for a young girl to be found out to be pregnant, and not yet married, and not even carrying her fiance’s baby! The repercussions of this announcement and situation would be long lasting – physical, financial, relational, mental, and emotional, as well as spiritual.
There was at least 9 months to prepare, struggle, question, and process as she dealt with this unbelievable development privately, but even more so as it became public in the latter part of her pregnancy (visible baby bump).
And then, the time came for the baby to be born. In the madness of that event (no epidural, first time mom, and lacking medical advancements), she delivers a perfectly healthy baby boy. We read in Luke 2 that there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the moments and days of the birth with the shepherds showing up and telling about angels.
Scripture says Jesus was laying in a manger. This is literally a feeding trough. And in this tiny unsanitary picture, we have the first message of advent, HOPE. Jesus, in the midst of catastrophe, shows up as the sustainer of new life. Jesus, lying amongst supper for animals, symbolizes the very life source for any who would come to him, take him in, consume him.
He is light in the darkness, the [Son] which gives light to the world. Just because something seems to be bad, too big for you to handle, broken in every way, Jesus is going to show up in the middle of it. Might be 9 months before he arrives, but he will come. That is what advent is about, the expectancy of the arrival of new life!!!
Hang on. Lean in. Live better. And remember, when life is too ROUGH, Jesus is the one lying in the TROUGH!
#LifeIsTrough
#CatastropheToTheNativity
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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