The Messiah Who Disappoints

"In choosing to be born in utter obscurity, the King of the universe ignored conventional expectations. He celebrated in His own birthday the freedom to be unorthodox. In failing to live up to people's presuppositions ("From Nazareth?" ask Nathanael, "Can anything good come from that place?") Jesus became a stumbling block to many of his contemporaries. The housebroken Jewish imagination cringed at the crib, shuddered at the ersatz salvation of a humble unpredictable God. A King in rags was an insult to the finely honed intellect of the Pharisee and the rational mind of the scribe. Simpleminded shepherds and the rabble who did not know the Law might be hoodwinked, but those who studied the Scripture could not be deceived. There is a fascinating principle at work here in very religious people: 'Messiah, You get our allegiance only when You fulfill our expectations.'"

Do you not just find it amazing that God feels no obligation to meet your expectations? He's not just free to surpass them; He is completely unfettered by them.

"In making decisions, Jesus was called in freedom to ask first not what the Law says but what would the Father have Him do. A free life is often unconventional and surprising because it is available to those creative possibilities and innovative gestures that have been screened out of consideration by standards of acceptable behavior. In opting to celebrate His birthday in Bethlehem in such low-key fashion, Jesus revealed himself free from public opinion, from fear of what others might say or think. Jesus is the incarnation of the Father's freedom."

(From Lion and Lamb, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Brennan Manning)