First century manger |
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:1-7)
If you were planning a rescue mission to save the world from itself, would you launch your army of One from a womb and a feeding trough?
And yet, that is the Father’s strategy. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor. 1:25) His “weak, foolish” strategy – an infant born far from the Galilean homes of his human parents. One Child. Savior of the world.
May the all gifts that come with surrender to Him be yours this Christmas. Shalom.