I’m still thinking about the Advent imagery of a subversive operation as I wrote yesterday about the Italian resistance during World War 2. Often we want to recruit (or be recruited for) something with status and position. Jesus didn’t come with position, like someone, say, born into a royal family. And he doesn’t offer us a position either. When Paul was “advancing” it was in Judaism (see Galatians 1.14). When Jesus came, who were the first people to recognize him? All people without status:

• Shepherds
• Simeon
• Anna
• Even the magi had no status in Israel

That Jesus was coming to establish an “underground” movement is clear from the beginning. He had no status. His witnesses had no status. His early followers had no status.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13, NLT)