Christmas

                                                                                                                                          INDONESIA

                                 

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 2:6-7 (NIV)

It seems antithetical to our view of God’s provision that there was no room at the inn, yet we need to see the big picture. God entered the world in one of the lowliest symbols to a farming culture—a feeding trough. In addition Galilee is regarded as the lowest elevation point on the Earth. So God came in humble fashion in order to relate to the poorest groups of people in Israel. From that point on, Jesus Christ related to every socio-economic, educational, and political class of that time. The hardship of the inn set the stage for God’s love to all mankind.

Luke 1:30-31 – But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, Mary was an amazing woman. Think of the situation — a 13 to 15 year old virgin is told that she has favor with God. Favor? She will be pregnant and have to convince her fiancée that she was not unfaithful. She will have to endure the gossip that will follow her for the rest of her life concerning the birth of her son and the timing of her wedding to Joseph. Yet God DOES give Mary favor; He reveals to her the unique role that she plays in God’s purposes and she embraces that role, even though it will come at great personal cost. Christmas is a reminder that our story—including all of the difficult parts—is never truly understood until it is seen in the light of God’s story. Matthew 1:18-19 – This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. We can easily turn the Christmas story into a lot of warm fuzzy feelings, but the Biblical narrative has more grit than that. Being engaged at that time was more binding than it is today, so the culturally correct way to end the engagement was with a divorce. But don’t blame Joseph for his reaction, because Mary’s pregnancy was a lifelong mark of shame for her and him. Yet out of their shame would come redemption. God can use the events in our lives that seem scandalous to display His glory to the world.