December 24, 2024 

Today's Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 44:21-45:13, 20-25; Daniel 10:1-12:13; Isaiah 48:1-22; Revelation 12:1-17

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. Mary was engaged to Joseph, but she got pregnant. From the Holy Spirit. From hearing the Word. She’s totally still a virgin. And Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. That means he didn’t believe her, which is probably not unfair. You have to admit how it looks.  

Maybe that’s why the world doesn’t understand the reason for the season. Nobody was converted by Christmas decorations. Look at the nativity and tell me someone could look at it and proclaim, “Hey, look, that baby is fully God and fully man, Son of the Father, born of the virgin. He’s going to die on the cross and rise from the dead to forgive us our sins.” You have to admit how it looks. You’re not going to figure this out on your own. It has to be revealed. So an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained it. To all of Nazareth, Mary looked unfaithful. And a little crazy because she stuck to the story. Yet she is blessed among women because she is the mother of God. Joseph looked like an old fool, yet he believed where so many didn’t. The more they believe, the worse they look.  

Especially to the Pharisees, who look so amazing all the time. They weren’t perfect, just good at hiding what was wrong. Excusing it. Blaming others. Anything but confessing what’s wrong to be sin and hoping God would be merciful to sinners, which is sort of the whole point of the religion. The believing Mary and Joseph looked like sinners and fools. The unbelieving Pharisees looked righteous.  

We love to measure how things look. But how does Jesus look hanging on the cross where He saved the world that couldn’t save itself? This is foolishness to the wise. He became the same. To dwell in creation, alongside us, in sin and misery. God almighty became an infant. God with us. He knows what He looks like. It’s ok. Nobody figures it out on their own. It’s always been revealed. Because faith comes by hearing, not looking. Look at the manger. Look at the cross. It doesn’t look like much. No wonder the world mocks us. Christ came to assume your weakness and carry your sins. The ones others belittle you for. The ones you hide so well. The ones that prove you don’t measure up. The ones that make you look like a bad Christian. The ones it’s easier to hide or excuse. He saves you from your sins. All of them.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.