Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

A Few Grown Men

The First One

Last updated on: December 20, 2012 at 12:53 pm   by Jonathan McKee

The First One 2012-12-20T12:53:09-07:00 Jonathan McKee

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

If God decided to humble himself, become man, and enter the world today… I wonder who He would appear to first?

A Wall Mart greeter named Betty?

A welder named Sam?

A dog groomer named Margo?

Phil, the guy who cleans gutters?

Jimmy, the mall cop?

Yeah. Those jobs probably aren’t included in any list of the top 10 coveted jobs in America, yet these jobs are filled by people that God loves deeply… so deeply, they might just be the first person he connects with.

Do you think God would have chosen a Wall Mart greeter to be the first one to visit him as a baby?

If you’re like me, you’ve heard 100 sermons about the nativity, the shepherds and the angels. This Christmas, I’ve been reflecting on that whole scene. It’s something that has become so routine to us we often miss the significance.

It’s this simple: Shepherds were a bunch of nobodys, and God chose them to first come greet the Messiah.

Imagine what this would look like today. Baby Jesus, in a run down motel with a leaky roof, surrounded by Betty with her Wal Mart tag, Sam with his dirty calloused hands, Margo with a toy poodle tucked in her oversized purse, Phil in a pair of coveralls, and Jimmy sucking from the straw of a McDonald’s cup.

This was the Messiah’s entrance 2,000 years ago. He noticed the unnoticed back then, enough to greet them first…. and he still cares enough to hang with us today.

I guess he really lived up to that “Emmanuel” title… God is with us. All of us. Even Betty, Sam, Margo, Phil, Jimmy… and you.

(Luke 2:1-16)

Christmas

Previous Post



December 19, 2012

How to Talk to Children about Tragedy

Next Post



December 24, 2012 How Beautiful the Boring Games You Played as a Child


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Giveaway Book Review Bullying Career Christmas Church devotion Discipleship Donald Miller Drugs & Alcohol Easter eternity evangelism Family food giving thanks God humor James H. Pence Jonathan McKee Leadership love Marcus Brotherton marriage masculinity men's ministry men's studies movies music Parenting Pastoring patriotism persecution pilgrim politics pop culture Prayer Prison Ministry prosperity religion Saul secularism sex Social Media Television Thanksgiving Uncategorized women Worship youth culture

Select a Month December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012




TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who predicted Jesus' betrayal price?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Zechariah Jeremiah Daniel

Related posts from A Few Grown Men

Family

Merry Christmas!

A Few Grown Men

Family

Marijuana Use Actually Declines?

A Few Grown Men

Family

Is Planned Parenthood Right?

A Few Grown Men

Family

The Secret to Quality Time with Your Kids

A Few Grown Men

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Family, Parenting and Religion

The Woman We Remember by Her Wound

Śūrpaṇakhā Had a Heart Desire, humiliation, and the woman behind a turning...

6 Ways to Promote a Healthy Relationship

Karen, 42, and Kevin, 41, have been married for ten years and...

Jad Gillies on New Hillsong Worship Songs and...

For worship leader Jad Gillies, Hillsong Worship’s next chapter is not about...

Looking at the Largest Orthodox Cathedral on Earth

  There is often a considerable amount of anger and, shall we...

The Problem with False Prophets

Miller’s Station UMC| 10/18/26| Anchor Verse: Jeremiah 23: 1, 9-23   I...

Emotion in Early Christianity by Andrew Crislip

Andrew Crislip’s Emotion in Early Christianity examines an often overlooked dimension of...

view all Family, Parenting and Religion blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube