Archive for December 24th, 2008

It is popular this time of year to try to prove/disprove many of the aspects of the Christ’s birth such as the virgin conception, Caesar’s census, two stories or one, and so forth, as events that actually happened. I do find myself on one side of the spectrum in those arguments, but I think these arguments actually are ways of distracting us to such a point that we actually miss what is going on at Christ’s birth. Here’s a few examples:

• The Magi ask, “Where can we find the King of the Jews?” This would have sent up red flags for all the people, and I think the story shows this. Who’s the King of the Jews? Well, Herod is. Thus, Jesus challenges Herod.
• The angels call Jesus the “Savior.” In the Roman world, the “savior” was Caesar. He saved the world. He fixed it. The early readers would’ve clearly understood this as a challenge to Caesar. Jesus is the real Savior.
• Along the same lines, the angels say that this child brings “peace on earth.” If you asked the citizens of Palestine, who brings peace on earth?, the likely answer would be Caesar (i.e., pax romana). Jesus again challenges Caesar. Only Jesus truly brings peace.
• Other challenges to Caesar would be Jesus’ “stealing” of his titles - son of God, Savior, Prince of Peace, etc.

These are just a few examples, but my point is this, when we focus on arguing what actually happened or didn’t happen, we miss the point that Jesus challenges the rulers of the earth. The rulers of the earth think they know how to bring peace, and they do it through violence (how do we keep a crazy dictator quiet? Kill him, of course). That’s how the world handles things. Jesus, on the other hand, brings peace through justice to every person. When we are distracted, we miss these things. We miss the beauty.

The beauty - God decided to live with us, and he’s setting up a new way of doing things, not through violence, but through justice for all people. Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is a different way of doing things.

Therefore, Christmas is a reminder that there is a different way of doing things. Life is no longer as it was. The world is no longer as it was. It is different. Swords are turned into pruning hooks; justice is given to all; the wolf lies down with the lamb. Peace on earth, and goodwill to all people.