Who is this Man? – Day 4

A good start is half of the work done. But Jesus’ career and ministry on earth was surprising and not expected. People did not expect that the Saviour would come to earth as a baby. For the Jews, Jesus was one of many young boys by the name Jesus. The only people who initially believed in the Child, was a group of despised and rough shepherds, and a few stargazers from the East. A star gave the sign and angels started a rap song in staccato: “Glory to God … and on earth peace … to those on whom his favour rests.”

The Jews expected something totally different. They expected a saviour, not a baby. Someone so strong, that He would eventually, once and for all, free them from the terrible suppressors, the Romans. The small group of wise men from the East proclaimed that a king was born. It spread like a wild fire through Jerusalem. Where can we find the king of the Jews? King, king … what do you mean? And so the wise men arrived at a small baby king in a modest little house.

Can this be the Saviour? It looked like a joke. The beginning of Jesus’ life was unusual and odd. Mary, who has never slept with a man, became pregnant – through the Holy Spirit.

This is an odd start. Imagine a young woman in your congregation, unmarried, becoming pregnant. That is something people whisper about behind the back of their hands. Jesus is the son of an unmarried woman – born out of wedlock. That is how people viewed it at that time. What the Jews thought would start off in a palace and with might, turned out to be quite the opposite.