A Christ with No Crib

Luke 2 (NRSV)

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

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“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

Incarnational good news begins between a rock & a hard place.

Here are some questions for reflection:

1. Have you witnessed God in action during your toughest of times? Did it look the way you “expected” it to look?
2. Do you tend to see the strangest of people, or are you tempted to look away?
3. We’re told Jesus came for those whose backs are against the wall (Howard Thurman). What does that mean in this story? What does it mean for you in your current circumstances?
4. Often God’s plan doesn’t look like the plan we expect. In this section of scripture, we see evidence of this in both Mary’s lack of provision and the revealing to the shepherds in the field. What do their reactions tell us about how we should posture ourselves in our day to day lives?
5. Coming as a child in a small out of the way town it was easy to miss His arrival unless you were looking for Him. How can we be sure to be “looking” for Jesus in our lives and not overlook Him?
6. Even amongst extended family there was no room for the poor young couple. In our busy lives, how can we be sure to save or make room for Jesus if He “arrives” unexpectedly?
7. God’s love will not always be a soft warm bed in a secure domicile, sometimes it will be a hard straw filled trough in a dirty manger. When you are faced with hard times can you still see God with you? Do you keep looking for God when things are between that rock and hard place?
8. The hard place is not always so obvious. Can you think of some situations that would be hard places where you might struggle to find God?

If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider these:

1. The story of Luke is told from Luke’s perspective even though he apparently based his reporting on the testimony of those who were at the events. How would this birthing story of Jesus be different if it were expressed by a woman today?
2. The shepherds got interrupted in their jobs with the birth announcement, and walked off to find the baby. How do you think they found the right place? What do you think the others said to themselves about the news prior to the shepherds’ arrival?
3. We’re told that those on the margins are the people whom God pursues. What does that look like in the world around you? What do we as followers of Jesus do to emulate this in our own lives for others?
4. How did Caesar Augustus’ census calling fulfill prophecy? Which prophecy (or prophecies) was (or were) fulfilled?
5. The metaphors about shepherds are easy to come by where the lowly sing praises and are hopeful. Consider the comparatively well off wise men that ventured out in search of Jesus. How far from your ordinary do you have to venture out to find Jesus? Would a life of relative comfort require a greater journey to find Him?