Luke 2
Friday, December 9, 2022
Sheep are stinky.
Consequently, shepherds stink.
Tending sheep, especially overnight, was a pretty thankless job, and took a toll on a lot of those who did it. Shepherds were not very well thought of by those who had more respectable agrarian jobs, or those who worked in the city.
But God chose them to be the first ones to know the messiah is born. They saw him in the manger after the angels made their Christmas announcement!
Old people who spend their days alone can sometimes be weird.
In fact, some of the best people are the old weird people who spend most of their time in prayer to God. The family of Jesus are accosted when they take him to be consecrated on the eighth day. Simeon and Anna may have been well respected, but they were still both older, and both a little weird.
But God chose them to be among the first to share the message of the Messiah. They spoke the message, Simeon ready for death, knowing the Messiah had come!
The story of Jesus is full of unexpected moments like this. You didn’t see shepherds shouting out with joy, speaking to all who would listen. You didn’t see Simeon and Anna stopping families to talk on the way to the temple. You didn’t see a twelve year old boy going toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow with the religious scholars of the day.
But God chose these moments, these people, these places, to give us a clue that in the rest of Luke we’re going to see unexpected moments.
With the familiarity of the passage at Christmas, it may seem common place. But as you read Luke 2 today, remind yourself again just how radical *and strange* the birth of Christ was. May you find comfort in the fact that no matter if you are
Old
Young
Weird
Normal
Or even stinky
God is choosing you to believe in Christ this Christmas. It is up to you to choose to believe.
-Jake Ballard
Reflection Questions
- What do you find most surprising in Luke 2?
- Do you believe in Christ? How will that change your day, season and life?
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