There is a reality to the Scriptures that I so appreciate. They do not attempt to sugar coat things…or to cover them up!
You have to understand that no one quite knew what to expect when the Messiah came.
It was like everyone expected something different.
Everyone had their own laundry list of needs, wants and desires…and they just knew that when the Messiah did come – he would address “their shopping list” immediately…and first and foremost.
Obviously they were setting themselves up for some pretty huge disappointments.
Jews today are still divided about what will happen when the Messiah comes.
There is a lot of guessing and conjecture that goes on…a lot of hopefulness…but zero certainty.
A lot of their expectations were dashed hopelessly.
Nowhere was it ever thought that the Messiah might have to suffer for the people. No connection to that – was ever made. Messiahs simply do not suffer.
Instead the Messiah would be glorious like a triumphant warrior, leading his people from victory to victory.
The birth of Jesus and his ministry was problematical in oh so many ways.
There were actually those people who believed that the Messiah would put an end to all human tragedy and suffering…forever.
One of the things that the scripture rather boldly declares is that the birth of Jesus does not put an end to human tragedy.
His own death on a roman cross of crucifixion speaks against it.
The death of the holy innocents is a case in point.
The death of Saint Stephen being another case in point…
The tragic deaths of the apostles spoke volumes…
The birth of Jesus simply did not bring an end to human suffering and tragedy…and the Bible acknowledges that…
There is a reality here…
Instead the Gospel of Matthew wants us to trust that the birth of Jesus – demonstrates…
• That there really is a God.
• That God can be trusted to fulfill promises that were made in the past.
• That God is love.
• That God has all the power that love has.
• That God does not use coercion or violence to fulfill his promises – as violence means – that love has failed.
• That the most innocent and the most vulnerable are often the victims of the rulers of this world…
• God can and does heal and reconcile…there is always hope.
• God can and does protect, guide and warn…
• God still speaks to his people today.
• God is a God of forgiveness…
• God is love and love is the only response that will ultimately bring an end to violence.
• Jesus who bore the title of Sonship also had a title of lowly, humble and of “an obscure earthly status.”
It was his humble and poor origins that were a stumbling block for so many. It was the questioning surrounding his birth that caused many to fall.
And it was also “where he was from”…some hinterland digs known only by its inhabitants as Nazareth. An obscure backwards village in Galilee of the Gentiles… A no man’s place. Why the place is “so back country” that it does not even appear in the Hebrew Bible…or in any other early records.
Apparently the fact that he shall be called “a Nazorean” – was not a good thing, either. It was simply another strike against him.
Therefore in John’s Gospel we hear the phrase, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
No one expected a Messiah who would be a humble servant of all. Messiahs are not servants, they are leaders. They are served, they are honored, they are respected…they are revered and they are not crucified…they are victorious over all their enemies.
The Bible tells it – the way it was. It is pretty straightforward. It does not mince words.
It needs to be appreciated for its boldness and for its honesty. It really, truly just puts it – all “out there.”