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)
The King of the universe born to transient parents in a homeless shelter and his birth announced only to shepherds.
It would seem that the Son of God being born would be a time of great jubilation. He would be born to wealthy parents who would be able to give him all of the education needed to credential him in the eyes of the world. He would have a world stage and millions would come to hear him. he would live a long life and finally die with one of the largest funerals known to mankind.
But no. he was conceived out of wedlock, born to transient parents in a homeless shelter, lived an obscure life in a little town in the middle of nowhere, had a brief three year ministry, then died a criminal’s death and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
As the song says, what a strange way to save the world.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 says:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.God’s plan worked, to put it mildly. Even though Jesus had such a brief ministry after such a plain life, the Christian faith is the largest single religion in the world, greater than any other. Time after time, people have tried to stamp it out, yet it remains. After persecution and government mandate, still it stays.
After 70 years of enforced atheism in the Soviet Union, the minute the wall came down and communism crumbled, up came the church. What had been large in secret became huge is public.
Even with the persecution of Christians in Muslim countries, the church is experiencing a revival with millions being brought to Jesus.
It cannot and it will not be stopped.
Humble though it may have been in its inception, it is massive and will continue until Jesus comes again.
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