Monthly Archive for December, 2010

Mary was pregnant.  And although the life inside her was conceived of the Holy Spirit, her fiancé Joseph would be considered the earthly father, so it was his job to name the baby.  An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said “Name him Jesus.”

Throughout history, there has never been a word more worshipped, more hated, more revered or more offensive than this name.  It has been the catalyst behind the most selfless, as well as the most senseless acts of those who follow him and those who do not.  People on both sides have much to learn.

Still, I find it helpful to know that concepts like higher power, source of enlightenment, secret of the universe, deeper presence, etc., and even love itself are much more tangible and knowable than those phrases suggest.  In fact, he has a name.

The coming of Jesus fulfills the prophecy written by Isaiah: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”  Later, Matthew’s gospel tells us what this strange name means: God with us.

The name of God’s son indicates plurality.  It’s “God with us”, not “God with me.”  Sure, God wants and has a relationship with each of His children individually.  The equal truth is that He came to dwell within a community of His followers, as part of relationships of humans who put God at the center.  As an anaology, He refers to Himself as the head of a body comprised of many members.

We see this principle throughout the Bible, where the word “you” most often signifies a group, rather than a solitary believer.  It’s like that phrase we use in the south – “y’all.”

Observation and experience reveal that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to be a spiritual lone ranger. And the reason is that disciples going solo were never God’s intention.  He came to be with “us.”

I’ve never been pregnant.  And seeing that I’m of the male gender, I never will be.  But I’ve had an experience in common with two of the most famous pregnant women who ever lived.

The Bible character Elizabeth was a few months along.  Her relative Mary had conceived so recently that no one even knew she was expecting.  As the two women met face to face, however, the baby inside Elizabeth leapt for joy.  She immediately knew there was something going on inside Mary as well.

Life calls to life.  And when it’s the Life God has placed in our spirit, it (He) cries out to that same Spirit within others.  Whenever a connection is made, there is excitement and joy.  We experience this when Believers gather and Jesus fulfills His promise to be in our midst.  It also happens at the mall and baseball games, concerts and work places… anywhere that the living God in me senses the living God in you.

Human encounters that go beyond human contact are quite inspiring, as Elizabeth and Mary discovered.  Personally, I could use more of that.  Let’s get together.