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.
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.
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.
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?
According to the law, if Joseph and Mary offered in sacrifice two turtledoves or two young pigeons, this is further indication of their poverty.
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!)
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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).
We sacrificially serve Gods rule by placing Him in charge of all we are and all we do.
For Thought and Discussion
1. At times God acts in ways that make us feel what?
2. When Gods actions make us feel uncomfortable, what do we often do?
3. Enumerate typical responses to Jesus birth event.
4. What are some questions we rarely ask?
5. What challenging contrast exists in Jesus birth event?
6. Only a unique God would allow what?
7. Honoring God is not about what?
8. From the beginning of Jesus life until its end, Jesus life and message is what?
9. We sacrificially serve Gods rule by doing what?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 7