Sometimes, people think that Jesus was born only to die, to pay the penalty for human brokenness and allow us to know our perfect God directly.
But, Christ also came to live. In CCDA terms, he "relocated" from heaven and entered our world on our level. He came in vulnerability as an infant. He dwelt among us.
In society's eyes, Jesus was a failure. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" After achieving a decent following, he died. What happened to establishing his kingdom, saving the Jews from Roman oppression?
His teachings did not reflect what the Jews wanted. His teachings were hard. "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles" (Matt. 5:41; NLT). A fiery zealot might refuse to accommodate this common service for a Roman soldier (and perhaps suffer for his defiance). A law-abiding Jew would carry the military gear for the required one mile, probably muttering profanities under his breath. What lunatic carries the pack for more than the required amount? A disciple of Christ. Christ's love is strange. It defies human categories; it's transcendent. For the radicals and conservatives alike, it astounds us.
Last Christmas, while my dad and I were strolling through our north St. Louis neighborhood, he commented about how hopeless it would feel to live here without Christ. Without a Redeemer, it is hopeless. But, Christ changes everything. Even in my neighborhood, the buildings may still be falling down, but the disciples of Christ are slowly being transformed and transforming their environment.
Where is hope?
Dandelions grow through the cracks of sidewalks, amidst the glittering of shattered glass. God's people. A city on a hill. A light in the darkness.
I took the following pictures within a few blocks of my St. Louis home. Each one tells a story.
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