THE VAGABOND JESUS!

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

THE VAGABOND JESUS!

Matt 8:19-20

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

           The Christmas Story reveals Jesus to be a vagabond. The dictionary definition of vagabond is “wandering and homeless.” Even when He was in Mary’s womb he was driven from home by an edict from a cruel and unfeeling ruler bent only on more money and more power. Why, even his announcing star was a wandering star!

           The donkey carried heaven’s darling child through rough terrain to a village that had no room for Him. Bethlehem might have welcomed him as it did Ruth and Naomi long ago but, alas, the town’s store of welcome had been exhausted by the flood of visitors. The innkeeper was not so much cruel as he was spent! The only room was a stable but it was enough.

           Jesus was driven even from these humble accommodations by the warning of the angel. Herod would try to kill the newborn. So Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt where Joseph fashioned a life for the family. Housing had to be secured along with a place to ply the carpenter’s trade. The family remained in exile until the angel returned to tell that it was safe to return home.

           As Jesus grew to manhood he began an itinerant ministry that often saw him sleeping under the olives in Gethsemane with his small band of followers. The comforts of heaven and the adoring host of angels must have seemed far away. He resorted to Bethany from time to time and accepted the hospitality of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha but otherwise he was tossed like a leaf in the wind.

           How many had previously died on the rough wood of Jesus’ cross; none can truly know but even in death he had no place to lay his head. A borrowed tomb held him.

           Christmas is a time for the home-seekers. It is a time of travel when the heart longs for home and hearts may journey where feet can’t go. Believers in Jesus understand that they also are vagabonds.

Heb 13:14

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Dear Lord, satisfy all those who are homesick. Give them the comfort of your own Spirit. AMEN