Thoughts for the Day

* Map shows initial division of land.

When they heard Jesus' words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This incident of Jesus in the Temple reminds me of a Christmas Nativity play I produced with my elder son in Hanley Swan in Worcestershire. The first half was fairly normal though we used only words found in scripture and started with voices shouting out texts from different prophets. After that two narrators were used with characters miming the story. It didn't take long but at the end the congregation followed Mary and Joseph into the dark night, to a wooden shed at the back of the church. In the dim light they could see Mary seated on a hay-bale holding her baby, with Joseph standing behind, and a shepherd kneeling before the child. It was an absolutely magical scene!

After this the congregation trooped back inside to discover a different nativity scene. The narrator picked up Jesus' words about his Second Coming and we considered where he might appear if he returned as promised, today. Herod was now a slick Mayor with modern technology at his finger-tips, and Jesus was born to a homeless young girl under a railway arch amongst the down-and-outs. We were all left wondering whether we would recognise our Saviour if He appeared today in such a way.

In today's reading from John's Gospel we see Jesus in Jerusalem with opposition to him growing. Look at how influenced some are by the fact that he comes from Galilee with its large Gentile community and own strong accent. He's not considered "one of us" and they haven't bothered to check that he's a member of David's tribe with its centre at Bethlehem (Luke 2.1-7). Those who are against Jesus see only what they want to see and do not see the evidence of his actions throughout the three years of his ministry.

Lord Jesus Christ,
many did not recognise You as the Messiah,
because You did not come in the way they expected,
and so they rejected Your ministry as the Saviour.
May we not become blinkered in dealing with others,
lest we miss Your intervention in the world
and our opportunity to welcome You.
Help us also not to make judgements about others,
but to welcome in Your name
all with whom we come into contact this day.
Amen.