The Humanity of the Christ Child - Luke 2:22-40

In Melbourne I look around at the wonderful lights and decorations for Christmas. I do not see Mary, Joseph, the shepherd or the wise men. I feel sad. Where is Jesus?

Jesus came to us as Mary’s son, as a human being. Joseph and Mary were given the name but Mary broke the news. The news was known to Joseph that she was expecting a baby. He kept it a secret and of course after a while everybody knew that she was having a baby and she gave birth to Jesus.

Jesus was truly human in every way.. We have to realise he went through the same trials and temptations and difficulties as we have been through in our lives. How wonderful! A little baby, a little human being, totally human, totally like us in every way, and yet he was also totally God. This is something I just don't understand.I can't comprehend Eternal God, who became truly human and in that He is and was at the time of his birth the Lord of the universe.I find it hard to comprehend that Jesus was totally Holy God. It is beyond my complete comprehension, but praise the Lord he has given us this baby, this child and because I understand what a child is, I understand what a human being is and I can understand this Jesus who is my Lord and Saviour. He's also my friend and my brother by adoption.

The baby was circumsized on the eighth day, redeemed as the first born after 31 days and the Mother went for purification after 40 days and the baby was presented at the temple. We also have rituals about the birth of a baby and can relate to Jesus’ birth and early life, and presenting our newborn to our Christian congregations.

When Jesus was brought to the temple Simeon and Anna the prophetess recognised him through the Holy Spirit. Simeon was promised that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Simeon sees Jesus the Saviour of his people. Anna the prophetess, aged 84, also sees Jesus. The prophecy is fulfilled that day.

Yesterday at a special family reunion I saw many young people, the hope of the future. Before me was the excitement and wonder of completing university, leaving home and starting new jobs in new careers. I shared stories of the family’s past and hopes of the future with them, and reflected on the fact that Jesus gives the hope of eternal life to those who trust him and believe in him. The baby Jesus was there that night. He is still in our midst. He is the hope of the world.

We cannot put our trust in important people, rules or the the government, but we can trust Jesus. When concerned about the changes around me I continue to pray. The longer I pray the more I rejoice. God enables us to trust him. And so at Christmas time, even though the lights don't have any sign of Jesus in them, even though the community is more concerned with shopping and presents and having times at the beach, times of worrying about covid, times of sadness and loss of loved ones and their absence at your table for a meal we have a wonderful God who has given us hope for the future. Our God is a God of miracles. We have young people with joy and excitement taking on new responsibilities. Our responsibility is to tell the good news of Jesus who came as a human being to die, suffer and rise again.