Advent Daily Devotional - Day 16
Matthew 2:3-6 (NIV)
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[a]”
I’m a big Christmas carol fan and I have to admit I’ve been playing them in my house since the end of November. Having said that, I’ve come to realise that, although there is some fantastic theology in these Christmas hymns, there are also some questionable ideas being sung too.
‘How silently, silently the wonderous gift is given…’. Now I know that Mary is a special lady but really, are we seriously suggesting that she gave birth without even a whimper?
“The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes…” Erm – how did he tell his mum he was hungry or needed his underclothes changing, or had some wind trapped?
And don’t get me started on ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, I’m sorry if it’s one of your favourites but for me it’s a Victorian propaganda song for keeping children quiet, obedient and toeing the line!
I suspect that as the authors of these carols have attempted to poetically convey what a miraculous baby Jesus was, as they try to convey that He is the son of God, they in some ways strip away some of His humanity which is an essential part of the salvation story. Ironically it also feels that in trying to convey the purity and holiness of Jesus that they also seem to strip Him of His Godly power. Mild, gentle, good, and quiet, doesn’t really convey the earth-shattering, dominion-shaking event that is taking place when God takes up residence among His people in human form.
As I reflect on today’s passage, I am struck by how the infant Jesus, a little boy that is probably only just learning to speak and walk, simply by existing was already bringing disruption to the corrupt power structures of His day.
‘When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him’.
Bethlehem, potentially considered ‘least among the rulers of Judah’ is elevated as it is graced as the birthplace of a ruler who will not command but shepherd God’s people.
From a tiny babe to an adult parading into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus over and over again brought a love, compassion and a grace that rattled cages, disrupted societal norms, championed the poor and marginalised and challenged the religious constraints that separated people from God rather than drawing them closer. I’m fairly sure the religious and political authorities of the day didn’t perceive Jesus as, ‘mild, obedient and good’.
Questions….
Have I allowed hymns, carols and worship songs to shape my theology more than the Bible? Do I need to sink into and reflect more on the biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth this Christmas?
As I invite Jesus to live in my life, am I prepared to allow Him to use me to bring disruption to the corrupt power structures of my day? To influence where I spend and invest my money; who I include and show love and acceptance to; to bring a challenge to the accepted norms of my friends, family, colleagues or even church, sometimes with a word and sometimes just by living it differently.
Today's devotional was written by Katie Wigley.