A refugee, an unborn child and an elderly couple walk into the christmas story
- Noah Bartlett
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
A refugee, an unborn child and an elderly woman walk into the Christmas story…
Over the last few years the nativity story, particularly in Matthew’s gospel, has been used to show that the Christmas story is a story that elevates the position of those seeking asylum in foreign nations. A particularly poignant depiction of this was seen at Claremont United Methodist church in California. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were each in a cage, separated from each other. This was to protest the US administration’s treatment of families at the US/Mexico border.(1)
The Christmas story challenges our views on and treatment of those seeking asylum. If the second person of the Trinity chose to be born to a poor family who had to flee to save his life and seek asylum in Egypt, this has to inform our response to those who are fleeing danger and persecution in their own nations and are seeking asylum on the island of Ireland (or wherever you find yourself).
The Christmas story invites us to consider the lives of those among us who are seeking asylum, to sit and listen to their stories and be drawn closer to the lived experience of God in His incarnation in the person of Jesus.
However, recently I was struck by how the Christmas story also challenges our views of other vulnerable groups, groups that are often advocated for on the other side of the political divide than the side who advocate for those seeking asylum.
Who is the first person to recognise Jesus and worship Him?
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:39-41 (NIV)
Did you catch it? Who leapt for joy in the presence of Jesus before anyone else? An unborn child!
Yes the Christmas story challenges our views on immigration but before we think that Jesus neatly fits into one political camp, it also challenges our views of unborn children. If God gave the gift to this unborn child to recognise and worship Jesus before anyone else, if we can actually learn from the worship of an unborn child, then we are dealing with someone already made in the image of God who has dignity and worth and whose life cannot be seen as an inconvenience or nuisance.
The refugee and the unborn, together in the the nativity story, challenge us to align our vision not with a political tribe but with God’s vision of humanity. And it doesn’t stop there…
Who is this child’s mother? When an angel appeared to this woman’s husband, he announced they were going to have a child who would be a prophet and would pave the way for the Messiah. Zechariah answers:
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
Luke 1:18 (NIV)
God chooses an elderly couple, he gives them the privilege of being the parents of John the Baptist, the final prophet before Jesus comes. Elizabeth, this elderly woman, was barren. She most likely felt she had failed her purpose in life by not having children, perhaps she felt cursed or at least full of shame. After all this was the perception of the time on those who could not have children.
As the debate around assisted dying rages around us, many fear this would not be limited to an option for those suffering from terminal illnesses but would slowly become the norm, perhaps even a ‘duty to die’ instead of a ‘right to die’.(2) Some are afraid assisted dying will gradually be encouraged to relieve the economic pressure of supporting an ageing population or alleviate the stress of families supporting ailing and ageing parents.
Into this debate God clearly declares the value of all life, including that of elderly people. Elizabeth and Zechariah are one in a very long line of elderly barren couples used by God to bring about His promises. Elizabeth and Zechariah clearly show that if we are going to align our view of humanity with God’s, the lives of elderly people cannot be seen as economic problems to solve, but once again image bearers to be loved, valued and listened to.
The Christmas story invites us out of our political camps, out of having to choose one vulnerable group to speak up for to the detriment of the other. The Christmas story invites us not to choose a side of the road on which to stand but to stand boldly, graciously and lovingly in the middle being a prophetic voice to all sides as we proclaim that God is the God of the unborn, the elderly and the refugee. He was God incarnate from Mary’s womb, worshipped by the unborn child of an elderly couple and became a refugee. He deeply identifies and values every vulnerable group without choosing, and invites us to do the same.
A refugee, an unborn child and an elderly couple walk into the Christmas story… will you fight for each one of them?
