God Will Be With You: The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story:

Mark launches his Gospel with a quote from Malachi 3:1: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” (Mark 1:1-3)

This verse concern the coming of Yahweh back to his people after the long spiritual exile that began with the Babylonian Captivity of 588 BCE. Following the destruction of the Temple of Yahweh built by Solomon in Jerusalem, Yahweh was seen to have departed from it and abandoned his people to their sins. In the first century CE, the Jews were still eagerly waiting for Yahweh to return and doing so under the rule of the conquering Roman Empire. When Mark cites this verse he is specifically stating that Yahweh is returning in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Christ. What does the angel Gabriel say the nickname of Jesus will be? “They will call him ‘Immanuel’ (which means God with us’).” (Matthew 1:23).

Ominously, the verse in Malachi is followed with the warning “But who can endure the day of his coming?” (3:2)

The coming of Yahweh in the person and work of Jesus was a time of both liberation and judgment. Look at what the Christmas story states:

“Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed.” (Luke 2:34)

“He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and sent away the rich empty-handed.” (Luke 1:51-53)

No wonder King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The Christmas story is a highly political account of God inaugurating the Kingdom with Jesus, threatening all other kings, rulers, and governments.

Part of Jesus’ message was to the rulers, elders, scholars, and priests. He was telling them that the long awaited hope of Israel had arrived. Yahweh was returning to his people ... but they were missing it! Jesus was telling the priests and elders (the ministers and pastors of his day) that God was acting now … and you’d better get on the same page. This was now the time to get right, to shake off egos, to abandon personal kingdoms … before it’s too late.

Christmas is a time for people in authority (businessmen, governments, and pastors) to ask themselves if they are behaving in their respective positions in the way God wants them to behave. If they are not, now is the time to get with Gods’ agenda and not your own. Otherwise …

God will be with you.