“When they did not find him…”
The story in Luke 2 is a thought-provoking one. The Joseph’s family after their customary (Luke 2:42) trip to Jerusalem is on their way back home to Nazareth. However, Mary and Joseph do not realize until the end of the day that their son Jesus is absent from their company (Luke 2:44). Concern gives way to panic as they rush back to Jerusalem to search for their missing twelve-year-old son. This story captures my attention in more than one way. For example, when I consider it through the perspective of a parent, it must have been three days of agony for Mary and Joseph until they found Jesus again. When I consider it through the perspective of Jesus, it appears bizarre that an exceptional and anointed child (Luke 1:15) would put his parents through an anxious three days (Luke 2:46). However, there is another perspective, that grabs my attention when I read the story in Luke 2, especially when I interpret the story through the lens of Matthew 1:23.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)“
Matthew 1:23 tells us that the word Immanuel means – God with us. If I think it through, Mary literally had the son of God with her. She gave birth to Jesus, weaned him and raised him. Mary knew about Jesus even before he was born, and as a mother, she knew him better than anyone else. But then she lost him; she lost her Immanuel. She lost the one whose very name (Immanuel) meant – God with us! The reason Mary and Joseph were in Jerusalem was for the Festival of the Passover (Luke 2:41). In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the Passover Lamb (John 1:29; John 1:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 12:11). Passover was all about Jesus, yet Mary and Joseph lost him. It seems in the midst of celebration we lose Jesus. Dear reader, as we near the Christmas season I have a question for you: Have you lost your Jesus (Immanuel) too? Perhaps like Mary and Joseph, you have lost him without even realizing it (Luke 2:44). Let me explain what I mean.
Peace not Fear
“So do not fear, for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10)”
Isaiah 41:10 associated the presence of God with the reason for why one should not fear. Did you take note of the words “I am with you” in Isaiah 41:10 and how aligned they are with the word Immanuel (God with us) is Matthew 1:23? Fear has no place when God is with us. The matter of fear is no small subject in the word of God. It is mentioned more than 600 times in scripture. The command to not fear is given over and over in the Bible. Despite this, fear stalks our everyday life.
Our body has an in-built response to threatening situations that science calls the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is a psychological reaction that occurs in response to something terrifying, either mentally or physically. Fear is part of this response. Both are beneficial responses when we are in real danger. However, most of the world today seems to be gripped by fear. A sense of helplessness due to our self-reliance has engendered more fear. Fear for our jobs, relationships, finances, future, health and many mundane things. We have become slaves to our in-built response, that is driving us to take control and react.
When David stood before Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-47), he must have experienced the psychological reaction that occurs in response to something terrifying. Yet, he confronted a giant of a man with these remarkable words – “this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands” (1 Samuel 17:46). It is also interesting to note what king Saul tells David when he prepared to meet Goliath – “Go, and the Lord be with you.” (1 Samuel 17:37). Are you seeing the link here between Immanuel (God with us)? Before David stepping forward, the response from the entire Israel army was fear (their natural reaction). This is a nation that experienced the saving hand of God in many impossible situations but still chickened out. However, David perceived the same threat through the lenses of his trust and belief that his mighty God was with him. This faith underpinned his response, and He did not take ‘flight’ and hide, but he stood to ‘fight’, totally trusting that God was with him (Immanuel).
When we let fear overwhelm us despite the “do not fear” command that scripture gives us, we fail to recognize and acknowledge that God is with us and in a way, we lose Jesus! Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus is the reason for Christmas; his presence amongst us promises peace and not fear. He is God with us, our Immanuel. This Christmas make sure you don’t unintentionally lose Jesus by giving way to your fears.
Hope not Despair
“O the hope of Israel, the savior thereof in time of trouble”
The Covid pandemic has caused millions of people around the world to despair. Everyone is looking for hope. The word hope is used in many different ways today. There is a profound difference between the hope described by the world and the hope that the Bible defines. Hope is a very important word in the Bible. The biblical definition of hope is “confident expectation” unlike the worldly hope which is a wishy-washy, unsure optimism. Biblically hope is a matter of faith, which is why biblical hope is characterized by confidence rather than wishful thinking. Human defined hope pales in comparison to the hope that the Bible describes.
“We can live several weeks without food, days without water, and only minutes without oxygen, but without hope – forget it“
Paul the Apostle describes Jesus as our hope (1 Timothy 1:1) and our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). When we put our hope in Jesus, we are attributing our hope with the confidence of sure certainty that God has under his control everything concerning our lives. Hope can be found in Jesus Christ alone (1 Peter 1:3-4), and it’s not hard to see why when we lose hope, we lose Jesus. The Psalmist declared – “As for me, I will always have hope” (Psalm 71:14). This Christmas make sure you don’t unintentionally lose Jesus by losing your hope.
God with us
This Christmas, as you give and receive gifts, meet family and friends, take a quiet moment and appreciate what the word Immanuel really means to you. Is God with you, or have you lost him somewhere along the way? Peace and Hope to you all, have a blessed and joyful Christmas – May God be with you.