Jesus presents values not based on ethnicity, handouts or gender

Christmas is a special time for family and friends and for many it’s a well-deserved break from the toils and stresses of a working life. Above all else Christmas is about children and more specifically one infant born far from home in a stable because there was no welcome anywhere for a poor woman about to deliver her first born child. 

The child Jesus sneaked secretly into our world, unannounced and unrecognised. No fanfare, no razzmatazz, not even a midwife to assist with his delivery. His first visitors were the lowly and despised shepherds and sometime later a bunch of astrologists stumbled upon his birthplace.
But what if Jesus were to return again and make his home in Kenya! What would he make of the country and what would he have to say to authorities, bishops, priests, police and politicians? Most likely he would avoid the company and comforts of most of that crew and make his home in Korogocho, Nyalenda, Kibarani or perhaps with the displaced in Kakuma or Dadaab.

The man sent to give good news to the poor, prisoners, the downtrodden and exiled would surely adopt their condition not to glorify poverty or suffering but to empower the weak, provoke them into resistance and assertiveness and call them forth to leadership and service in a new and better world.

Bringing their loot

Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. He then would have a lot to say about inequality and the great divide in this country. He had no place to call his home so what would he make of the affordable housing that like an UFO everyone talks about but no one has yet seen. Like the rest of us he might ask Housing for Who, those that can afford or those least able to afford?

Would Jesus preach in our houses of worship or would he be found in the market place or the bars? If he were he to witness politicians bringing their loot as an offering or to a fund raiser would he take a whip and march them out of his father’s house? Or perhaps he would reserve his greatest anger for the prelates and pirates who invited them and paid the price by their silence over corruption and misrule? Jesus always retained the harshest of words for the religious leaders of his day. To those who have been entrusted with the most then even more would be expected of them.

At least if Jesus were born this year as opposed to 2017 he might be relieved to see the reduction of tension among those who hold power. Would that make him a supporter of the handshake? Maybe, maybe not! Jesus loved to expose the hypocrisy and games of the ruling classes. That is not to dismiss the handshake but he would interrogate the new partners over their designs and ultimately question as to what difference this will make to those who died, were maimed, imprisoned or who lost property and livelihoods over the 2017 ballot.

Jesus viewed life from the perspective of those at the bottom, the leftovers, the mitumba of life, the rejects and the discarded. Jesus might cause a revolution in this country because his teaching would resonate with those who are most angry with the ruling classes, those who feel we have mortgaged the country to foreigners and those who don’t see any future in the options available to them for leadership and improvement of their living standards. 

Yet, Jesus never advocated violence. But he did promote active nonviolence. Jesus preached change; he was a change agent of hearts, minds and structures. His message provoked humanity into action for change, and for mercy. He presents a whole new set of values that are not based on the stock exchange or on handouts, ethnicity or gender. 

The downtrodden of society would resonate with his teaching and flock to his meetings. They would not need to be bussed or reimbursed. Women too would find energy and inspiration but what about the ruling religious and political class! Efforts to court, accommodate or tame him would indeed occur but to no avail. Which of course begs the question would Jesus be eliminated, disappeared, disgraced or worse? Who knows but maybe we should revisit the matter in a few months’ time as we celebrate Easter. 

For now, I hope that Christmas brings you joy, inspiration, courage and boldness for the tough year that is just around the corner.

[email protected] @GabrielDolan1