Ralph Beyer (1921-2008) - The son of man is come from the Methodist Modern Art Collection © TMCP, used with permission. www.methodist.org.uk/artcollection

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. Isaiah 9:6

Re-imagining after loss

The good news – a child’s birth – is announced as such at the point of incarnation, before the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. In Matthew ‘Son of man’ is used rather than Son of ‘God’. Here is a subtle variation emphasising our joined, common nature. One like us has come (is coming), a brother, one who will experience God in the flesh, on the earth, as we do. One of us. In this is wrapped all the hope and promise of decades, following exile and silence. All that has been horizon, distance, dream, foretelling is moving inexorably towards closeness, similarity, commonness.

What has been lost Jesus comes to search for and restore. His re-imagining is often surprising and may show up in unrecognisable guises - under our noses (here and now, in our locality) , signposted via strangers (our lowly shepherds and unfamiliar foreign wise men), and marked by vulnerability, joy and the commonplace (as associated with a new born child). All of this is good news. All emphasise this One-of-us ness.

Question

We are emerging from an extraordinary time as families, as a community, a nation and as a planet where loss and grief have been to the fore. What’s been lost to you? Some of your faith? Elements of your dreams? What re-imaginings are being offered to you by Jesus now?