Jesus is not afraid of your mess

December 12

Read: Luke 2:1-7

Despite what our nativities would have us believe, Jesus’ birth was not a rustic, peaceful delivery.

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:6-7

Stables were dark and dirty places. Generally, caves were used as stables with feeding troughs, or mangers, carved into the rock walls. This was not the royal birthplace people expected for the Messiah and king. But it was a perfect picture of the kind of life Jesus would lead. 

In the 33 years Jesus walked the earth, He never shied away from messy people or situations. Promiscuous women, tax collectors, and sinners of all kinds found Jesus’ love and grace readily available. 

When life gets messy, Jesus’ birth reminds us that God isn’t afraid of a mess. He entered the world in a mess, met people in their mess, and turned person after person’s mess into a message (John 4:28-30).

Reflect:

• How have you seen God meet you in messy situations?

• What kind of mess are you facing today? How does it feel to know that Jesus is with you in it and wants to help you through it?