Adventure - Day 9

Though many of the religious leaders had found a way to thrive under Roman rule, there were still many who longed for the coming of the promised Messiah.  Undoubtedly, there were many prophecies recited and many hopes shared around camp fires and in small homes throughout the Hebrew countryside.

Remember, more Hebrews lived outside of the cities than in them.  This meant the dominant culture was agrarian, small town, simple.  

But as we continue to learn throughout the gospels, the Messiah the people hoped for was military in focus, one that would overthrow their oppressors and them on top once and for all.  They were waiting for a military leader, and many of them would be ready to follow this leader to death if it meant the forever rescue of the nation of Israel.  You can see this lived out in the disciples who were ready for a fight on the night of Jesus’ arrest, or the people who wanted to force Jesus to be king after the feeding of the 5,000, or how it didn’t matter that Jesus told the disciples several times what was going to happen to Him and they never could hear it or receive it.  They wanted Rome defeated, not won over to the Kingdom of God.

So Israel was ready for a revolution.  When Jesus marched into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling a known Messianic prophecy, the people went crazy.  They thought this was their time, finally, after all these years.  

You can imagine why so many people missed the birth of Jesus.  They were looking for Him in palaces, or in the midst of a mighty army led by mighty men, not a baby born to a simple young couple, in a small agrarian town, surrounded by animals.  

But rest assured, a revolution was coming, just not the kind they were expecting.  In this revolution, they’d be called to love their enemies and pray for those that persecute them.  In this revolution, they’d be led to interact with the people they hate, like Samaritans, tax collectors, and other sinners.  In this revolution, they’d be told to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.  In this revolution, to become great you have to become least, and when you are weak, then you are strong.

Jesus almost always comes, not just in birth but in life, in ways and in times that we don’t expect.  All you and I can do is to be prayerfully and submissively open to the revolution He’s calling us to in our hearts, our homes, our communities, and our world.

1. Has Jesus ever showed up in your life in a time or place where you least expected Him? 
2. What in your life, or in the world you live in, needs revolutionized?
3. How has God equipped you to participate in His revolution?
4. What’s one way you can practice today being open to how and when Jesus might show up to revolutionize you and your world?