And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
I'll have to admit right off that it is highly unlikely that God could not make sure there was room for a birth in an inn. But there is so much that is unlikely in the Christmas story that this particular verse from Luke is almost ho-hum in its announcements of the great event. A woman had her firstborn son, wrapped him in the usual swaddling gear and laid him in a feed bunk at the local barn because there was no room left in the local inn. Ho-hum, hum drum. Even in our lifetimes we have been to towns where a large event has all the rooms booked solid at the motels. Not at all unlikely.
This young woman was a virgin.
Oh, that's something entirely unlikely. Did the husband believe her when that story came out?
No, and that is the likely outcome of such a preposterous story. But then an angel visited Joseph in a dream, not once but four times altogether before the small family settled down in Nazareth. Comforted, warned, guided by angels in dreams, not likely at all.
Angels, magi, shepherds, this whole story has unlikely written all over it! About the only likely thing is a census in order to tax the people, and yet that census was used to get one particular family to one certain town at just the right time to fulfill a prophecy. The greatest story ever told is also the most unlikely story ever told. A story of such wonder that it is wonderful!
Happy Birthday, Jesus! We wait earnestly for Your return,
Bucky
No comments:
Post a Comment