God becoming flesh and blood on this “dirty tennis ball of a planet” is a glorious truth the angels of heaven could hardly believe. What is even more staggering is that when the God of the universe became flesh and blood, he entered our world not with the riches of royalty but the rags of poverty. The circumstances surrounding his birth did not come with power and applause but shame and rejection. We have been looking at the birth of Jesus through a different lens this year. The lens of scandal and tension. In today's final sermon from this series, we consider how the favor of heaven often brings trouble on earth.

Luke 2:33-35

Video of Service

Video of Service

One of the most popular traditions of Christmas is the sending of Christmas cards and the image that stands far above any other “religious” card is the picture of Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in Mary’s arms or in a manger. Images include a clean manger, well kept animals, and a beautiful starry sky. It is a very warm and inviting scene. What most cards leave out however is how hard, messy, tense and even scandalous were their circumstances. Ever tried to walk through an animal barn without stepping in something? These are things we don’t see in Christmas cards, but they were very real for Joseph and Mary. 
 
  With that in mind, I want us to consider the story of Mary and Joseph through a different lens this year. I want us to consider the tensions surrounding Christmas-the hardships associated with Jesus’s birth. By examining these tensions we can better enter into the joy of having a Savior who knows firsthand what shame, hardship, disappointment and uncertainty feel like.

Matthew 2/ Luke 2

Video of Service

Video of Service