All four of the Gospels in our Bible provide unique narratives and theologies of the life, death, and resurrection of our savior. Mark’s Gospel opens with “the good news of Jesus Christ, the son of God,” immediately throws Jesus into the Jordan River for baptism, and then races to the cross. This sparse Gospel barely mentions Jesus’ family and refers to him as the Son of Man.

John’s Gospel situates Jesus “In the beginning” of all time with God, becoming flesh to bring “grace the truth” into being. Jesus’ divinity remains tied to an ethereal beginning, an eternal father, and refers to his mother as “woman” in her few mentions.

Both Gospels provide compelling narratives for readers to take up the work of the disciples in ministry. Both gospels nourish thriving communities.

Neither mention a word of Jesus’ birth.

None of the Apostle Paul’s letters mention Jesus’ birth or life, and yet Paul writes persuasively of the new life found in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and in faith in Christ.

Why no mention of Jesus’ origin and young life?

Thankfully, the writers of the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew provide unique stories of Jesus’ birth. During our Advent worship, we will explore several characters in these accounts who anticipated Jesus’ conception and birth, and gathered around his manger.

Luke offers an orderly account from eyewitnesses to place Jesus’ birth in context amidst the politics, geography, and faith of the first century. Matthew approaches Jesus’ birth as part of a long line of God’s chosen people, whose DNA includes the scars of exiles, and fulfills time-honored prophecies.

Both writers paint their pictures through the lives of ordinary people – young and old, faithful and ostracized workers – who receive the word of Jesus’ birth. Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds took significant risks to respond to the angelic calls and gave up something to be a part of this divine beginning. They became actors in the story these Gospel writers tell of God entering human life.

This Advent season we will try to look through their eyes. Whatever upheaval they experienced in their lives may draw us closer to understanding the ways Jesus may transform our lives today. What may we learn about Jesus and God’s story of salvation by starting with a fragile infant? Gather ‘round the manger with me.

In faith,

Jo Forrest