Family 2

Matthew 13:55-56

With all the giving of gifts at Christmas, the many commercials and ads that urge buying the best and most expensive presents for others, the holiday often becomes a time of materialism. Christmas can become a celebration of possessions, a focus that takes us away from the gift of love from God.

But as time moves on, as we grow and mature, especially as we mature in our faith we can realize that the gifts – the things – of Christmas don’t have the appeal they once did. What becomes important is the time we spend together with the ones we love.

Although the focus of Advent and Christmas is often the baby in the manger, we must see that Jesus was part of a family. As Jesus was teaching in his hometown the people were amazed and in their amazement they wondered about this man they had known so many years. What questions did they ask? What family members are mentioned specifically?

In the amazement of the crowd, the questions they ask of each other, we see some details about the private life of Jesus. They mention his father, Joseph, someone we already know. They also talk about Mary, his mother. But now they talk about siblings to Jesus.

Listed by name are four brothers; James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. Although they are not named, sisters are mentioned and the words “all his sisters” seems to hint at three or more. Jesus was not alone in his life. He had brothers and sisters as he grew up.

Why is this important? I believe it is important for us to remember that our Lord and Savior was no stranger to the relationships we have in life. He had friends. He had parents. He had siblings. Jesus is completely able to understand whatever it is we go through in our lives because he experienced it too.

Christmas can be a celebration not just of gifts given and not just the greatest gift of Jesus, but also a celebration of time together with family. Jesus was the first child of a family, and that family has now grown to include each of us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Who needs to be included in your Christmas?

The Carpenter's Son 1

Matthew 13:55-56

Before I was married I lived on my own a few years. While living on my own, going to work and coming home to see nothing had changed since I left, I realized that there was no one around to help clean up the mess or cook the dinner. There was no one to talk to and no one to offer advice. While there were some freedoms to being on my own, I have often claimed that my time alone was not real life. It seems that it takes other people in your life to make it complete.

When we think of our Savior we often have a tendency to see Jesus as this lone man, this supernatural being, God in flesh, existing on a higher emotional and spiritual level than all the rest of us. While being aware of Jesus as God and remembering that he is part of the Holy Trinity is important and can give us some comfort in knowing of the omnipotent powers of God and Christ, it can also put some distance between us.

Jesus had a human side too, and in Matthew we see Jesus teaching in a synagogue. What are the details about Jesus we get from this passage?

Although completely God, Jesus was also completely human. He had the wisdom and the love and the abilities of God, yet he was like any one of us. He had a father who had a fairly ordinary job. He had brothers and sisters. Growing up he most certainly had to keep an eye on the younger kids now and then. He had to share a house and meals with the others.

There was likely love and laughter, as well as the occasional argument, the hurt feelings, the jealousy. Along the way there were times of joy and times of sorrow. Jesus was part of a family, sharing his life and living with others.

And while it is important to know Jesus is God, it is also important to know that Jesus was a human being. He understands what we are going through. He has experienced all the emotions and fears we have had, and his compassion – his love and comfort and mercy – is genuine and true, filled with complete understanding.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Did you have household responsibilities as a teen-ager? Can you imagine Jesus doing that same task?