“She gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

Christmas Day

John Piper says, “There are some wells that don’t run dry. Some horizons that expand as you approach. Some stories that reach back forever, forward into eternity, down to the depths of mystery, and up to the heights of glory. Advent is one of those. It is inexhaustible.” He says this because every year when it comes time to prepare yet another sermon about Christ’s coming, he never fears he has run out of things to teach about that great moment when Jesus became “God with us.”

Entire sermons could be preached—entire books and devotionals could be and have been written—about the birth of Christ. Much can be said about the circumstances of His first coming. We hear messages about shepherds. Mangers. Stars. Wise men. Virgin conception. Prophesy fulfilled. No place for them—no room, no cot, no corner to lay even a blanket on the floor—in the inn.

Tragedy! Poor Mary! Oh, WHAT can she do? Wring her hands, fearing the worst. Worry, fret, be anxious and stressed at these deplorable conditions. Blame somebody. Blame the Caesar who called for a census. Blame the crowds. Blame the heartless innkeeper who could plainly see Mary was about to deliver a child. Blame the weather, the stars, or Mary and Joseph’s poverty. Blame God.

Blame God? For what—for not planning ahead? The problem with our perception becomes obvious once we say we should blame God. Was eternity not a long enough time to pull off an empty room somewhere in Bethlehem? Could Jesus not have come at a better time—a more convenient, less crowded time? Did Joseph and Mary HAVE to travel so far? Couldn’t there have been a cart passing so she didn’t have to ride an uncomfortable, swaying, bumping, plodding donkey? Couldn’t Joseph have had a better job so he would have enough money to buy their way into a cleaner, more comfortable birthing facility?

No, no, no. We’ve missed it. God planned this birth down to the least detail. The time was perfect. The circumstances all fed into the Perfect Plan. The people, the places, the details all fell into the places assigned to them by Ancient of Days. The shepherds, stable, manger, star, wise men, census, innkeeper, poverty, donkey, crowds, dreams, angels—you name it—were all planned and executed by the perfect wisdom of God.

Future events, even those foretold, are always fraught with unknowns. But if we learn anything from the birth of Christ, may it be that God is sovereign. He can and will bring His perfect will to pass—with or without our agreement, opinions, understanding, or expectations.

All power to bring about all outcomes belongs to Him. He planned Christmas Day, and He’s planning our days as well. Rejoice!

“We can hardly find words big enough and glorious enough to thank You for sending Your Son. May we ever live for You in gratitude and wonder. We pray this in the powerful Name of our King who was, and is, and is to come. Amen.”