The Misfit

As I was watching Rudolph the other night, the plight of an anthropomorphized reindeer wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. Instead it was the words that one of my professors spoke in college about Mark 15. Mark Scott, in summing up the crucifixion, said: “there he hung; between two criminals. Just like his ministry, he spent time with losers.” I would take it one further: just like his ministry and his crucifixion, so to was his birth.

Jesus ultimately came as a misfit; to save misfits! As I read through the story in the book of Luke (with a little help from Matthew); the misfit motif permeates the story. It really started in the 8th century B.C. with the words of the prophet Micah. Micah 5.2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me on who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” The smallest clan! O little town of Bethlehem would be touchdown for the greatest Extra-Terrestrial visit of all time. Even Micah seems to down play Bethlehem. Fast foreword to Matthew and we see a family of Misfits. Matthew 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus. All the men and women in there have problems. You don’t even get out of the first verse of Matthew without seeing 3 of the 10 commandments broken! Every one of them has issues!

Looking at Luke 2 we see more issues. We have Bethlehem reappearing. Nothing more than a village in the foothills; sitting under the watchful eye of Jerusalem and under the watchful eye of the self appointed king Herod, 6 miles away. In verse 7, we find them in a barn. They couldn’t even spare a room in the inn. Misfit! Finally, look at who came to see him. The shepherds came. Like Charlie Brown, these were the guys whose invitation to the party was usually lost. Shepherds the unclean profession. Shepherds were on the Rabbinical lists of unclean professions! They were looked down upon by the upper class and were thought to be thieves. Fits in pretty well with the theology of Luke! He seems to have a special place in the text for those the world looks upon with contempt.

How does Rudolph fit in? Rudolph and his elf/dentist friend Hermey are outcasts of society; ostracized by the jolly man himself: Santa! The world viewed their place in society with disdain. Jesus felt the same derision! When Jesus bursts on the scene in John 1.46 what is it that Nathaniel claims: “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?” Sure enough the origins of Jesus brought problems! He would be arrested and condemned to die in place of Barabbas, another “misfit.” The “misfit” whose cross he took; possibly between two of Barabbas’ men.

And so ends Jesus life. Hung on a cross; between two criminals (Luke 23.32). Luke even puts words in the mouths of the criminals that hung there! Just like the advent; just like his ministry; so to his death! He spent time with Misfits! He became a misfit; to live amongst misfits; to save misfits! Aren’t you glad we have a great high priest who was tempted and lived as we do (Hebrews 4.15) who suffered daily as we do (Phil. 2.5-8).

The greatness that took place that night in Bethlehem is that our salvation; our worth; our purpose; and our chance to no longer be misfits came that one night in a little Judean town. Jesus put on flesh (John 1.14) and visited our own little island where misfits abound. Therefore we are no longer “misfits” but citizens (Ephesians 2.19); no longer “misfits” but children of God and heirs with Christ (Romans 8.17)!