Luke 3:23-38
We have a lot of control in our lives, well, at least we think we do. We make decisions every day about life: what time we wake up, when we go to work or school, how we get to our destina- tion, what we eat —you get the picture. But one of the most significant events in our lives, we have no control over: when we were born, where we were born, and to whom we were born. In fact, no one in the history of this world has had that choice other than Jesus.
Even before the beginning of time, God knew when he would come to earth. God could have chosen any time in history, any place, and any family. But for some reason he didn’t. God cares about, and is involved in, every detail of our lives; therefore, doesn’t it make sense that Jesus would intentionally be involved with every detail of his life?
So if it is true that God could have chosen any time in history, any place, and any family, then why did Jesus come when he did in the way that he did?
There are so many answers to this question, but let us focus on who Jesus was as a human be- ing.
- – Jesus was a product of a dysfunctional and toxic family lineage.
- – Jesus was born to unwed parents.
- – Jesus was born under political oppression.
- – Jesus became a refugee.
- – Jesus immigrated back to Joseph’s home in Nazareth.
- – Jesus grew up in a town, Nazareth, that was considered the projects.
- – Jesus may have been raised by a single parent.
- – Jesus was born under religious oppression.
- – Jesus lived his life in poverty.
- – Jesus lived among the poor, sick, outcast, and unwanted.
- – Jesus endured an illegal trial.
- – Jesus was innocently killed by capital punishment.
- Jesus’ humanity reveals to us what God cares about. Jesus cares about the poor, the sick, the unwanted, the refugee, the immigrant, the op- pressed, the wrongfully accused, broken families, and people who have been discriminated against. Essentially, anyone who the majority, the religious, the politically powerful had either kicked aside, ignored, or used to exploit for their religious and political gain. Jesus not only identi- fied with these people, but he was one of them. He chose this life he lived; it was no accident. So later, when Jesus says, “whatever you have done to the least of these you have done to me,” he literally meant he was one of them. This is our Savior. This is our Messiah. This is our King. Jesus chose to come unnoticed among the op- pressed to establish his Kingdom. God’s Kingdom was birthed and is realized from “below” quietly and gently among the hurting, abused, outcast, unwanted, and forgotten. Jesus is not attracted to the bright lights, shiny buildings, or clean streets. He is not drawn to the people who “have it all together.” He is moved with compassion to the prisoners, captives and broken hearted. Jesus was born into the messy parts of our world.
Excerpt from the book, A Subversive Advent. You can purchase it here: https://tinyurl.com/42dm489n
Phil Steiner 