Catching A Glimpse of the Obvious

Have you ever been accused of being someone who misses the obvious?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gone to look for something I know is there, and I come up empty-handed. Take sunglasses, for example. I have a hard time keeping up with sunglasses. I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, sunglasses have a way of eluding me. Several weeks, ago, I was in hurry to get to the store and back in time to cook dinner. It was late afternoon, the sun was setting, and I knew I’d have to have my sunglasses to navigate. I looked frantically for several minutes, taking trips back and forth from the car to the countertop back to the car to my chair and even to my wife’s car! The glasses were nowhere to be found. Finally, on one of my trips through the living room, I caught a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror – the glasses were planted firmly on top of my head where I had left them earlier that day. How could I have overlooked such an obvious thing?

The entire world missed something obvious – something as plain as the sunglasses on my head. All of history had been pointing to the Messiah, coming to save the nation of Israel. Year after year, as the Passover was observed, the people looked and looked for a Messiah to come and deliver them once again. Isaiah, arguably one of the best chronicled prophets of God, said as much time and time again in his ministry to Israel. Yet, when Emmanuel did show himself on earth – just as Elijah had foretold – the people sat dumbfounded and aloof to his presence. Jesus came in the creativity of a baby boy in the bustling town of Bethlehem and no one saw. Even at a very young age, Jesus astounded the scholars and befuddled the would-be-wise, but no one paid him any attention. Still later, when a man from Galilee came with gifts of healing, exorcism, and even power over death, the crowds overlooked him.

As the Christmas season is upon us, it is important that we not miss the obvious right in front of us. The problem comes when we block the obvious with presents, debt-accruement, over-done parties, etc. These things are all well and good and bring us great delight; but no greater joy can come than from seeing Christ in Christmas. And what of Jesus’ work in and around us all year long in the church? It’s one thing to look for Jesus’ special in-breaking around Christmas and Easter; it’s another thing altogether to see the effect of the Messiah in our local churches and ministries.

Yes, this holiday season, let’s not miss the obvious promise fulfilled among us and our church: Emmanuel, God With Us.

Resounding Themes:
Emmanuel
Foretelling of the Messiah
Jesus as the Light of the World
God’s Work Amongst Us