Jesus is on the Loose

Text: Luke 21:25-36

In the city of Chicago, there is a priceless nativity, with handcarved pieces that was a gift from Italy to the city, that is set up every year during the Christmas season. As with any nativity, at the center of the scene is the baby Jesus. Several years ago, there was an abduction. The baby Jesus was missing from the nativity. The news stations covered the story around the clock, and the police department began searching for the missing Jesus. Finally, after a couple of days of frantic searching, an anonymous caller tipped off the police to find the baby Jesus in a locker. Sure enough, the figurine was there, and was safely returned to the nativity, unharmed. That would not be the last disappearance for Jesus. The baby Jesus was later abducted again, this time by a young man who apparently didn't set out to do the crime, and once he had Jesus just walked around the city with him, not quite sure what to do next. Again, the baby Jesus was returned unharmed. Now Jesus is strapped down with large metal straps, and often guarded to prevent another theft.
As I read this story, I thought about how interesting it was that every time the baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity, he was returned, unharmed. It seemed the thieves didn't know quite what to do with him once they had him out of the manger. it was also interesting to think about the panic of the city that followed the abduction, and the sigh of relief once he was returned. We like the image of the baby Jesus lying in th manger. The quiet, sleeping baby, so sweet and harmless. Jesus is very manageable this way.
But the message of Advent is not just a preparation to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. Our Advent texts remind us that Jesus has not been kidnapped from the nativity. Jesus moved out of the nativity and is no longer the quiet sleeping baby but the living God who came to save us, our Lord Jesus Christ who will come again to bring judgment and redemption. When we read our text for this morning, we see Jesus not as the quiet baby but the "Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." The text describes the world in chaos and calls the readers to "raise your heads, for your redemption is drawing near." During Advent we certainly look toward the celebration of Christmas, and the birth of Jesus, but we also look with hope toward the second coming of Christ, the time when Jesus will return to bring the final judgment and redemption for the world.
This Jesus is a lot less manageable that the picture of Jesus in the manger. I think it's easier for us when Jesus is safely strapped into the nativity. When Jesus was missing from the manger scene in Chicago, when he was out on the loose in the city, people get a lot more nervous. Even thieves return Jesus to his place in the manger. But let us remember this Advent that Jesus is on the loose. Christ has come, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.