ADVENT: Reclaiming Christmas -- Day 9

Advent:  Day 9:  “The Foolishness of Christmas”

Scripture:  “While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).

Are you kidding me?  The GOD of the universe who created all things and who ordained Joseph and Mary to come to Bethlehem couldn’t make certain a room would be available for them!

Of course, He could have provided a room.  JESUS could have been born into a wealthy family.  He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness.  He could have called 10,000 angels to His aid in Gethsemane.  He could have come down from the cross Himself.  The question is not what GOD could do, but what He willed to do.

But GOD’s plan was that though He were, yet for your sake and for my sake He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9).  GOD could have demanded the whole world bow down to Him but His plan was that He would humble Himself to death on a criminal’s cross.

No one on earth would have ever planned out a redemptive story like this one planned and orchestrated by GOD Himself.  It is foolishness and absolutely ridiculous to the world.  We cannot always understand the ways of GOD.  But we can know without doubt that GOD’s plans . . . GOD’s purposes . . . GOD’s will is always right . . .  GOD’s will is always best.

JESUS calls us to something radically different from what the world view proclaims . . . “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). 

The whole redemptive work of GOD seems irrational and illogical to the world.  “But GOD has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and GOD has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong . . . so that no man may boast before GOD” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

But in the final analysis the only thing that truly makes sense . . . is GOD . . . who left heaven . . . becoming a human . . . born of a young lady who was a virgin . . . for the purpose of redeeming all mankind . . . Christmas!  He would eventually die on a cross in the place of all others . . . He would be buried in a borrowed grave . . . He would rise from the dead . . . and He would ascend back into heaven.  Yes!  That makes sense!