The Gospel In The Seemingly Insignificant

Introduction

In 1928, at St. Mary's Hospital in London, a scientist was reviewing some petri dishes before disposing of them. Dr. Alexander Fleming had been researching influenza, but after returning from vacation, he noticed something odd about a contaminated dish he'd left out. Most scientists would have simply discarded it as a failed experiment. But Fleming's curiosity was piqued by an unusual mold that had grown in the dish – and more intriguingly, by the clear zone around it where no bacteria could grow.

This seemingly insignificant moment – a contaminated petri dish that most would have thrown away without a second thought – led to one of the most important discoveries in medical history: penicillin. What began as a mistake, an oversight that made the experiment appear ruined, ended up saving millions of lives. The "mold juice," as Fleming initially called it, became the world's first antibiotic and ushered in a medical revolution.

Jesus and penicillin. Who would of thought that would be a combo.

Obscurity

What seems unimportant or obscure is often times disregarded and seen as unimportant.

As our text pointed out, that XXXX read for us today, is that Jesus was in Egypt to escape the threat of death by Herod. God directed them to go to Egypt and so they did.

Herod dies, and angel speaks to Joseph and says, “It’s time to return.”

As the family made their way back, Joseph surveyed the land and realized it was still not safe to return to where they were in Bethlehem (you’ll remember this is where his family was from). Archelaus was the son of Herod who was ruling. He was ruthless and cruel man… it wasn’t safe. Even more dangerous, He was incompetent, Rome removed him not long after he took power. Nevertheless, they left and went North after being warned in a dream, again. Mary was from Nazareth and so they returned to her hometown.

Nazareth was really nothing to aspire to. I would liken it to someone saying in our day… when I grow up I want to say I’m from Gorst, WA. Nazareth had a reputation that was really unremarkable by most standards. In fact when the angel visited Mary initially, she was taken aback a little bit that it was her that God had chosen because she would not have been considered desirable by most because of where she was from.

Matthew helps us out here though and says, God had a larger plan… this was to fulfill what was said of Him, “He would be called a Nazarene.” This is someone who comes from Nazareth.

Now you won’t find any prophet or anything in the Hebrew Scriptures that we know of that Matthew is directly quoting from. But let me tell you what I think Matthew is doing… I think he’s led of the Spirit of God to draw this connection…

Matthew 2:23 “and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth (GRK: Nazaret). So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

Isaiah 11:1–3 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch (HBW: Nazer) will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord…”

No one debates that Isaiah 11 is a messianic scripture, but what Matthew is doing for us is saying is the Messiah is going to be “Branch Man” who is coming from “Branch Town”.

But here’s the consensus on Nazareth… when Philip goes after his friend Nathanael that he might follow Jesus just as he has, John records the interaction for us…

John 1:45–46 “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.”

Opposition

God's kingdom operates in opposition to human intuition which can be and is often motivated by selfish ambition.

Throughout scripture we are told and reminded that the weak are strong, the foolish are wise, the poor are rich.

To be sure, the Bible is not trying to redefine these words but it is accentuating that what often the majority seeks after in strength, wisdom, and riches/power is for their own self gain. It is for their own benefit, and often times at the cost and well being of others. When in fact, as God bestows these gifts of strength, wisdom, wealth, and power, they are intended to benefit everyone through the one who was gifted in that way.

When we seek after those things, the gifts of strength, power, influence, money for our own self glorification we are using tools that weren't meant to be used in that way and can end up hurting ourselves and others (to which we will be held accountable). But that in God's economy those who are seeking the betterment of others are blessed and those who are selfish are to be pitied and are last in the Kingdom.

The Bible points out the inherent tension between worldly values and God’s Kingdom values.

Many who want “Christians” in power feel that it is necessary because then they can enact God’s good rule. I understand the heart behind that. I believe Christians should be wherever the Lord opens the door for them to be, live, and serve. But I disagree that at all costs, Christians should occupy places of power, as if our hope or God’s will depended on it. If God thought that was necessary and that were the case, then Jesus would have ascended to the halls of power in the world. But He didn’t. He in fact came as a vulnerable child, needing to be tended to, cared for, fed, and nurtured. He would come that He might die so that we might have life. Jesus would say, Luke 17:33 “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”

In a world obsessed with climbing ladders, Jesus shows us the power of descending them. The manger in Bethlehem and the obscure streets of Nazareth were not detours on the way to glory – they were the very path of glory itself. When Jesus said "Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it," He wasn't just giving us wise words to ponder; He was describing the very pattern of His life – and inviting us into it.

Think about it: The Son of God could have commanded legions of angels, but instead chose the company of fishermen and tax collectors. He could have wielded divine power for His own comfort, but instead used it to heal the broken and feed the hungry. He could have established an earthly kingdom, but instead allowed Himself to be led to a cross. This is not just a strategy for winning – it's a complete reorientation of what winning means.

And here's the beautiful paradox: When we stop grasping for power, we find true strength. When we cease striving to prove our wisdom, we discover real understanding. When we release our desperate hold on wealth and status, we inherit riches that cannot be stolen or destroyed. This is not God arbitrarily turning things upside down – it's God showing us they were upside down all along, and finally setting them right.

So perhaps the question isn't whether we can get Christians into positions of power, but whether we can get power itself to bow before Christ's example of servant leadership. Because in God's kingdom, true authority doesn't flow from the top down, but from the cross outward.

Orchestration

Praise be to God because God is the master conductor, arranging each person's role in His greater symphony.

As we are young we think, “What am I going to be when I grow up?” As we finish High School and stand on the precipice of life, we are confronted with that sometimes overbearing question, “what’s next?”

As we are older we start to wrestle with importance, value, and legacy. Did I do any good? Did I make an impact? Was my life worth it? Did I do, OK? We think about purpose, roles, and responsibilities. Should I have done this instead of that? Navigating regrets and choices that we made.

Just as a master conductor knows precisely why each note must be played by each specific instrument at exactly the right moment, God weaves together the countless threads of our lives with divine intention. Think of an orchestra performing a magnificent symphony. The third-chair violinist might feel overshadowed by the concert master, the triangle player might wonder why they only chime in a few times, but without each one playing their part exactly as written, the music would be incomplete.

Some of us may feel like we're playing the triangle in life's grand symphony – just an occasional ping amidst the swelling strings and dramatic crescendos. But those seemingly small notes, those quiet moments of faithfulness – the encouraging word to a struggling coworker, the patient presence with a difficult family member, the simple act of showing up day after day to do work that few will ever notice – these are not random or insignificant. They are precisely placed notes in God's magnificent composition.

When we understand this, we begin to see our daily lives differently. That "ordinary" job becomes a stage for extraordinary love. That "unremarkable" neighborhood becomes holy ground for practicing hospitality. Those "mundane" responsibilities become sacred opportunities to reflect God's faithful care. We find ourselves part of something far grander than our individual stories – we become active participants in God's unfolding symphony of redemption, where every note, every player, every moment has been lovingly and purposefully arranged by the Master Conductor Himself.

Just as Jesus' thirty years in Nazareth were not wasted time but preparation for His divine purpose, your life – right where you are – pulses with holy potential. The beauty of God's orchestration is that He doesn't demand we play someone else's instrument or perform someone else's part. Instead, He invites us to play our unique note in His eternal symphony with everything we have. When we embrace this truth, the crushing weight of "what if" transforms into the liberating joy of "what is." For in God's orchestra, there are no insignificant players, no wasted notes, and no meaningless moments. Every life, every choice, every act of faithful love – whether noticed by the world or not – rings out as part of His magnificent composition. And one day, when the final note fades and the full score is revealed, we'll see how our small part fit perfectly into His grand masterpiece, and we'll understand that we were exactly where we needed to be all along.

Conclusion

(Let’s Stand)

This Christmas Eve, as we reflect on the holy family's journey to Nazareth, we're reminded that God's greatest works often begin in the most unexpected places. Perhaps you're here tonight feeling overlooked, questioning your worth, or wondering if your life matters. Take heart – the God who chose Nazareth chooses you. The same God who worked through thirty years of ordinary moments in Jesus' life is working through the ordinary moments of yours. Or maybe you're here tonight and have never taken that step to follow Jesus. Just as Nathanael was invited to "come and see" despite his skepticism about anything good coming from Nazareth, I invite you to come and see as well. You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be from the right place or have the right credentials. God specializes in using the overlooked and the unlikely. Just as He transformed a carpenter's son from Nazareth into the Savior of the world, He can transform your life too. Whether you're taking your first step toward Jesus tonight or have been walking with Him for years, remember – in God's kingdom, there are no insignificant lives, only significant love. And that love is waiting for you, right here, right now.

Let us Pray…

A general prayer: God, thank you for leading us to this place tonight. Would you now begin to work in our hearts confirming within us your great pleasure in us. That you have given us the most precious and valuable gift that you could have given us, that is the gift of life through your Son, Jesus Christ. That through Him, we find our significance, our value, our purpose and our meaning. May you continue to keep that on the forefront of our hearts and minds.

For those who might want to commit their lives to Jesus: Lord Jesus, I come to you just as I am. I acknowledge that I've tried to do life on my own terms, and I need you. Thank you for loving me enough to come to this earth, to live in obscurity in Nazareth, and ultimately to die on the cross for my sins. I believe that you rose from the dead and that you offer new life to all who trust in you. Today, I choose to follow you. I give you my past with all its regrets, my present with all its struggles, and my future with all its uncertainties. Thank you for accepting me, forgiving me, and making me part of your family. Help me to learn to walk with you and to trust your purpose for my life, even in the ordinary moments. In Jesus' name, amen.