David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Luke 2:4-7

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

We have to become clear

in the presence of the manger in the stable of Bethlehem

how we want to think, from this point on,

about what is high and low in human life

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I wish I had thought more fully in anticipation of a point I wanted to make in a message I shared recently. The point had to do with how the shepherds of the Christmas event were likely just common shepherds. Though they could have had charge of sheep intended for temple sacrifices, there is no proof they were. And in any case, they were shepherds, not priests. Theirs was not a high and lofty occupation. They were the salt of the earth not necessarily the cream of the crop.

And, I said, so are we – most of us. I didn’t think to say, “I didn’t see any of you arrive to church in a limousine. When I have seen limos at church, they show up at funerals or weddings. Otherwise we drive ourselves in ordinary cars. Some are nicer than others. But I don’t see many Bugattis or Lamborghinis in church parking lots. The paparazzi don’t chase us down. We don’t worry about being accosted by signature-seeking fans when we go out to eat.

It’s all relative, though. For 90% or more of the world’s population would consider us quite high in the social-economic pecking order. But we’re not among the super-rich, super-famous, or super-stars. At least as far as we’re concerned.

I love Bonhoeffer’s thought in this regard. How do we want to think about what is high and what is low in human life? The manger anchors us at one end of Jesus’ life on earth. The cross holds us on the other. Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Word Made Flesh. And he is found at his birth in a manger and at his death on a cross. Now he has a name that is above all other names. At his name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord – to the glory of God the Father.

Mary sang of this in her song of praise when she visited Elizabeth.

For he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty. – Luke 1:49-53

I have my favorite celebrities. I look up to certain powerful and successful people. But I am truly impressed with people who presume nothing, graciously give what they can, never try to brag. Perhaps I learned that by looking into the manger and standing at the foot of the cross. Will you join me there?