Disgraced Sparrows

Merry Christmas! It’s so hard for me to say that, with the weather here in Florida being Spring-like. Eighty degree weather in December is lame, quite literally. But anywho, it is Christmas, the day we recall the “birth” of our Savior. God coming down to us in human form is quite astounding. Have you ever wondered why Jesus came to Earth as a man? Yes, there had to be payment for the sins of the past, present, and future world, but why did God come down to Earth? I mean He’s God right? He can do anything He wants. He could’ve made a guy just appear in the desert, have him tempted a couple of times, and the have him unjustly tried and killed right? That would’ve made much more sense to me; He wouldn’t of killed His own son, it would’ve been a few weeks (maybe months) rather than 33 years for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. That seems a lot better to me. But God wants to dwell among us, to be trusted, to be loved, to be desired, to be here, to be our friends. And yet God is not like us. Yes we are made in His image, but He’s God and we’re not, so inherently there will be differences. So how could God be with us, and be so different? The answer is Jesus. Let me tell you this story.

A man was once walking down a stone road. As he was walking, he saw a flock of sparrows feeding on a loaf of bread that had been dropped on the side of the road. The man approached the flock, simply wanting to stand among them and observe their behavior; he wanted them to trust him. But as he approached, the sparrows became nervous, and took flight, leaving the loaf of bread behind. The man was puzzled: he hadn’t meant the sparrows any harm, he simply wanted to “live” among them. He considered what action he could take to achieve this goal, and it became clear. In order for him to stand amongst the sparrows, he would have to take on the form of a sparrow; he would have to become one of them.

This story explains the reason why Jesus was born and lived as a man: God wants to dwell among us, to be trusted. But God is different from us, and we do not easily trust something we are unfamiliar with, so God sent His son down as a man, so that He could live among us and be trusted and befriended. It makes sense now doesn’t it? But there’s more.

However remarkable that may be, there is a lot more we can learn through Christmas than just the fact that Jesus was born. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was a teenager when the angel informed her of God’s blessing upon her. She wasn’t married, she was still a virgin, she was engaged to Joseph, and yet the angel was telling her she was pregnant. Back in those days, being pregnant before marriage was disgraceful, and you would be profoundly ridiculed and looked down upon. Joseph fought with the thought of breaking their engagement, however quietly to spare Mary any more pain and ridicule. Think of Mary here; she hasn’t done anything wrong, yet she has lost all dignity and respect from her friends and neighbors. But Mary stood strong, cause she knew that she was blessed by God, that God was using her to bring His kingdom to us, to the same people that were disgracing her. How many times have you not done something right or not done something for God because you were afraid of what your friends or coworkers or neighbors may think of you? Quite a few I’m sure; me too. But why? Why should we care what those people think!? They don’t know the entire situation, so we have nothing to be ashamed of. Respect those people, even though they may hate you, and press forward with endurance at the task God has given you. And don’t be like Mary’s neighbors: just because it appears that someone you know has done something wrong, doesn’t mean they have. Respect and love that person. If you must, ask them about their situation, and be understanding and encouraging; be a brother or sister to that person.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!