Nathan Bond’s TART Remarks

Dr. Allan Boesak, assessor of the general synod of the VGK (Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk – Unifying Reformed Church, so-called as it is still in the process of unifying as it is the “Coloured” faction of the “Dutch Reformed family of churches” in South Africa… to be unified some time before the Second Coming, and if you are ever so slightly discombobulated, I, for one, do not blame you) says, “The lower we stoop to go through the door of the stable, the easier we fall to our knees. In worship.”(1)

Made me think. About that verse in the Old Testament. Ascribed to the advent. The “First Advent”. Isaiah 7:14. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

I’ve always wondered about this verse. Immanuel his name shall be called. Why then was he named “Jesus”? And whence the title extraordinaire “The Christ”?

I’ll tell ya.

One of Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, the three wise men, the exact identity lost in the moment of the, well, of the moment, stooped pretty damn low to get through the stable door and did, in fact (although I have no proof, but hey, we’re talkin’ religion here, who needs proof?) fall to his knees. Not in worship, but because he lost his balance.

And he landed in a pile of horse shit. Gold embroidered silk gown in desperate need of Vanish. A man of inadequate primer (short fuse) and metrosexual on things sartorial, the wise one exclaimed, “Jeeee-sas Kreye-essst!“

Mary turned to Joseph: “You know dear… I like that better. Immanuel, ‘God with us’, is so… so ‘heavy’.”

(1) Die Burger. 22 December 2007. By. Nuusoorsig. Laat mens dink. 15