When Princess of
Wales, Diana, gave birth to Prince Henry Charles Albert David (“Harry”), it
is reported
that a town crier, dressed in bright costume and plumes, rang a huge bell and
declared, “Her Royal Highness the Princess Diana has issued forth a second
son.” Outside St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, over 300 news
reporters and photographers jockeyed to get a scoop. There were two 41-gun
military salutes. A child, third in line for the royal throne, was born. Little
“Harry” made international news.
Hidden in the
shadows of a stable-cave, Mary the mother of Jesus, gave birth in the less than
sterile confines for livestock. No paparazzi. No reporters. No headlines in the
Bethlehem Gazette. Jesus did, however, have something more impressive than a
decked-out town crier. An army of singing angels announced Jesus’ birth. They
did not sing to Herod or to Caiaphas or to Pilate. Not even to Nicodemus. The
angels sang and spoke to a few powerless shepherds who were considered in that
day to be like pick-pockets, con-artists and liars. The angels said, “Go, find
Jesus. He is a deliverer for you.” Shepherds were not classy or spiffy.
Shepherds were basic; basic humanity. Shepherds were people in the raw. They
probably talked about and cursed kings, particularly Herod. They would never
dream of being invited into the royal court. The angels urged, “Go, find your
king.” We have to trust the word of the shepherds about the angels. And, oh,
by the way, the word of shepherds was not valid in court in 1st
century Judaism.
A few years
later a posse of pagan astrologers (magi) visits Mary, Joseph and Jesus. A
starry phenomenon captured their attention. They followed a star for miles in
order to find Jesus. They asked around Judea where to find him. As a matter of
fact, they asked right in King Herod’s palace halls, “Where is the
one who is born king of the Jews”? When they found Jesus, they worshiped him,
giving him valuable gifts.
With visitors
like these—no count shepherds and rich pagans—who needs enemies?
Amy, a friend of
mine, shared a saying: “An expectation is a premeditated resentment.” What
is God doing consorting with rural riffraff and Zodiac worshipers? The new
Jewish king, surrounded by shepherds and pagans, seems to contaminate his court,
to pollute his royalty. Yet, what if . . . just what if this new little king is
happy to be the king of riffraff and be graciously open to pagan outsiders? What
if this thoroughly Jewish king, with the blood of David in his veins (and
Tamar’s, Rahab’s, Ruth’s), is, in fact, king of the www—whole wide
world?
What is God
doing? God is rearranging our expectations in order to protect us from
resentment. As in last week’s post, I will close urging all us to let Jesus be
the LORD of our expectations. If not, we might get caught saying, “He saved
others, but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come
down from the cross and we will believe in him.”
The riffraff
line starts behind me. Come, worship our King!
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