WE WISH YOU AN IRONIC CHRISTMAS

The Irony of Christmas!

Don’t you enjoy life’s little ironies and surprises? I have been thinking of a few this Christmas.

1. One of the sights I have scheduled for my next trip to Israel is the Herodium on the edge of Bethlehem. This was Herod the Great’s posh hide-out. You cannot miss seeing the volcano shaped fortress that dominates the landscape. Herod’s role in the Christmas story never appears on the front of a Christmas card. The paranoid King slew all the baby boys under two in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-18).

Josephus, the Jewish historian, records Herod’s death, and burial in the Herodium. Here is the Christmas irony-Herod tried to kill Jesus and failed in the sovereignty of God. Instead, Herod died and was buried in the Herodium that overlooks the city that celebrates the birth of the true King of the Jews.

2. Caiaphas was the High priest when Jesus was crucified. This wicked religious leader prophesized in John 11:50-52, “’You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own as high priest at the time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.”

Ironically, Caiaphas unwittingly declared the Gospel. Also, it is ironic Jesus did die but he rose from the dead. Caiaphas died and his bones sit in a bone box with the name Caiaphas on the side in the Israel Museum.

3. Jesus lost the only political election he ever ran in. It was a runoff. Barabbas won. Jesus lost. The cries were, “Crucify him. Crucify him.” Because Jesus lost, we won. He became poor, so that we might become rich. Rich spiritually in Christ. Bad Friday turned into Good Friday.

4. Governor Pontius Pilate asked Jesus what is “truth”. Here Pilate was staring at “Truth” face to face without knowing it. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” … (John 14:6)

5. Caesar Augustus is a familiar name in the Christmas story. His name appears in the first verse of Luke 2. Remember, he called for a census that compelled Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. The shadow of the Caesars hovers over the pages of the New Testament.

If you would have asked people out on the streets of the Roman empire, “who will be the greats of the day remembered in history for 2000 years?” what would have been the response? Augustus! Nero! Herod! If you would have asked anyone if the followers of Jesus would be remembered down through the ages of time, people would laughed and indignantly replied, “Never. Losers. They will be dead soon and never remembered in history.”

Yet it is a Christmas irony that two thousand years have come and gone. We name our children Mary, John, Peter, Andrew, and Thomas. We name our dogs- Nero and Caesar.

This Christmas season, let us commemorate God’s greatest gift with wonder, amazement, and joy.

Dr. Michael Sprague is the Louisiana State Chaplain with the Capitol Commission and President of Grace Adventures. Michael does life with his wonderful wife Donna and resides in Mandeville, LA. His motto is “Bet the Farm on God.” You can find more information about Michael here.