One of us?

With 94 days to go to the General Election, one question which we may be asking, about the leaders of the assorted political parties is this: 'is he one of us?'

Much has been made of the lack of connection between politicians and the electorate, and this seems to be accentuated with most of the leaders.

Today is 40 days since Christmas, and in the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Joseph and Mary, as faithful Jewish parents, brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, because they were under obligation to make a sacrifice on his behalf, because he was their first child. 

Every first child in a Jewish family had a special offering made on their behalf, as a way to remember that at the original Passover, God had redeemed the first-born Israelites in Egypt, as a means of bringing them to freedom.

As later Christian theologians reflected on this presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple, they saw that it marked him out as one of us, fully human.  

As he was fully human, so he alone was able to bring us the freedom that God longs for us to enjoy. 

As the writer to the Hebrews stated,'Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.' (Hebrews 2.17)

While I am very muddled about which party or politician to vote for, for many reasons, I am so glad that Jesus was  made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. 

That means that He understands me well, and has done all that needs to be done to deal with all my many failings. So today, I want to thank Jesus for being 'One of us!'

Best wishes,

Richard