One of my favorite paintings to contemplate during Lent and Christmas is “Destiny,” whose artist’s name is unknown. The artist did not want to add their name to the painting because they did not like the attention; instead, they wanted the focus to be on the painting’s significance. You may notice that Jesus is playing with nails. Look a little closer, and you will see how the light from the window, shining on toddler Jesus, casts a shadow that forms a cross behind him—Jesus’ destiny.
How often do we wonder what Jesus’ life must have been like growing up as the son of a carpenter? Did Jesus spend time in Joseph’s carpenter shop, or was he out and about doing chores with his earthly mother, Mary? From what we have learned from Jesus’ teachings, it is possible that Jesus spent some time with both Mary and Joseph as a child.
Through the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we learn of Jesus’ birth, each Gospel writer telling it as they understood it. About twelve years later, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus on the way home from the Festival of Passover in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-52). Jesus is found in the Temple, in his Father’s house, doing what he had come to do (Luke 2:49). After Jesus’ appearance in the Temple, he reappears at the age of 30, making the line to be baptized by John the Baptist. Soon after his baptism, the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for forty days and nights, where he was tempted, and, coming out of the wilderness triumphant, he began his ministry.
Jesus, fully human and fully divine, knew full well that he was destined for greatness! Jesus came at a time when people were tired of living oppressed and were in sin. Prophets had come and gone, and the people had yet to feel the freedom of justice as promised to them in the prophecies. Jesus’ teachings and preachings of love and forgiveness filled the people with hope for the days ahead. While being persecuted by some of the religious leaders of the time, Jesus demonstrated his passion for service and healing, as well as the importance of rest and self-care, in tune with God.
One of his statements was that the Sabbath was made for humanity, and not humankind for the Sabbath. This statement calls for love and service of one another without any restrictions.
Jesus came to free us from sin and free us from ourselves, to redeem us, save us, and fulfill the promises that humanity so desperately needed and awaited. Most importantly, Jesus’ unconditional love for humanity was displayed from the manger to the cross to the empty tomb, and exemplified throughout his life among us, with the promise that we will never be alone but will be comforted, filled with the power, and live in the company of the Holy Spirit.
We, too, in Christ, are destined for greatness if we believe! The Gospel of John records Jesus saying, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12).
May we visit the manger this year in the assurance that Jesus, the boy-child, grew up to be our Savior and the Savior of the World!
Have a hope-filled, peace-filled, joy-filled, love-filled, and miracle-filled Christmas and New Year!
In the love of the newborn Jesus and my very own,
Pastor Iraida