There’s no place like home for the holidays, or so the song goes. We envision snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree. Instead, we sometimes get scheduling conflicts and family drama. Going home for the holidays can be complicated when you’re dealing with parents, siblings, in-laws, children, and all sorts of relatives who have holiday expectations.
On one occasion, I was the one with expectations. I envisioned the family sitting around the table, passing around the coffee and the pumpkin pie. But my family members had other places to go and people to see.
As I tried to explain my disappointment to the ones who let me down, I dug a hole that could have become the grave of our relationship.
That night, as I lay on the dusty carpet of my closet floor, the floodgates opened and my tears poured out.
Jesus, I cried, You said you understand our weakness. You were tempted in every way, but without sin. Were you ever tempted to argue with your family? Can you fix this mess?
Fortunately, the next morning, huge doses of discussion, apology, and hugs healed our wounded relationship.
But the incident made me wonder: Did Jesus ever experience family drama?
As a matter of fact, he did.
Tucked away in the gospels are a few passages about Jesus’s family. From his example, we can learn how to navigate family relationships and our own holiday expectations.
Jesus at the Passover Holiday
The boy Jesus was the ultimate example of a kid whose parents didn’t understand him.
Twelve-year-old Jesus and his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Mary and Joseph and their friends began the journey home to Nazareth, Jesus stayed behind. At the end of the day, when his frantic parents realized Jesus wasn’t in the group, they searched for him and eventually found him in the temple.
As a mother, I can relate to Mary’s reaction.
And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:48-51 ESV)
Jesus modeled submission to his earthly parents’ authority while he was still a child.
Jesus at the Wedding
As a young adult, Jesus lived in a culture where traditions and social expectations held great significance.
At a wedding in the town of Cana, Mary asked her son to come to the aid of the bridegroom, who was about to commit a major social faux pas by not providing enough wine for his guests. Jesus’s initial response sounded to me like, “It’s not my problem.” (I’m sure his words lose something in the translation.)
What he actually said was, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4 ESV)
But Mary was confident her Son would be willing to help. So she instructed the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And the guests witnessed Jesus’s first miracle.
Jesus understood the importance of social customs. He cared enough to rescue the celebration.
Read the rest at The Glorious Table: https://theglorioustable.com/2022/12/surrender-your-holiday-expectations/
