Such a story is not unusual to most people. Adoptions happen all the time. They are a wonderful opportunity to provide a warm and loving home to a child in need, a child who otherwise may have a life of struggles and challenges.
While the Gospel of John does not have the traditional Christmas story we are accustomed to hearing during Advent, what the Gospel writer says fits well in the Christmas season. What is said of Jesus? How did most people respond to the arrival of Jesus? What does Jesus offer to those who believe?
Mary and Joseph and Jesus began as a family in humble surroundings, the baby being placed in a feed trough – a manger – because there was no room for the baby anywhere else. Shepherds were told about the miraculous birth and were invited to see their Savior. Magi traveled from far off countries to honor the child because they recognized him as a king.
In spite of all that surrounded that special birth, in spite of the signs from heaven, not everyone accepted the fact that Jesus was the Son of God. Not everyone recognized the baby as the king God had sent. Even as Jesus grew and began his ministry not everyone accepted what he had to say.
Jesus was rejected by many of the people, the people he had come to save.
But if we believe in all that Jesus is, if we believe he is the Son of God, if we believe the baby was our Savior and king, then we are invited in to the family of God, the family that Jesus is part of. When we recognize Jesus for all that he is – Mighty God, Prince of Peace – we are adopted into a new family. We may not be related to Jesus in the same way that Joseph, Mary, and his brothers and sisters were but we are part of this great family of love.
Let us learn to celebrate the family that we have been brought into, the family of Jesus. It is a family of great love and grace.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What will remind you that you are part of Jesus’ family?
