by Pastor Patrick Cho
He could have been born in a palace, if that was God’s plan. It could have been in a royal bed with dozens of nurses and midwives at hand. He could have had the luxury of the finest doctors. Certainly, God could have orchestrated it to happen at one of the best hospitals. I suppose it didn’t even have to happen two millennia ago. Certainly, God could have waited for the days of modern medicine, sterilization, and hospital equipment. That is what is so shocking about the birth of Christ. He was born in a stable. He was laid in a manger. It is the exact opposite of what any contemporary parent would desire for their child. Yet, this was the King of kings and Savior of the world!
When our daughter Eden was born, we were told that there would be the possibility of having to share a hospital room with another family. We were thankful that we ended up with a room of our own complete with our own private bathroom. For Christ, there was no room at the inn. Our hospital room “magically” was replenished whenever we ran low on diapers, wipes, towels, or even food! Nurses waited on us bringing us cold drinks whenever we asked. Jesus’ had no such attendants; only animals making their animal sounds and producing their animal smells.
Every year, I know we are reminded of the humble circumstances of the birth of Christ. He was born in an insignificant town to a poor family and given a common name. Almost everything about the beginnings of Jesus’ life and ministry was humble. It was conspicuously devoid of the spectacular. Sure, hosts of angels came to proclaim his birth, but their only audience was shepherds in the field.
The significance of Jesus’ humble beginnings can’t be missed. He became a man so that He could represent man. He would eventually go to the cross and die for the sins of mankind. He serves as the sympathetic High Priest interceding for man and serving as the mediator between God and men. It simply adds to the amazing grace of God that He would come in such lowly estate. In so doing, Jesus could identify with the lowest of men. He could sympathize with the poorest of men.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:26-29 that it was in God’s plan to bring salvation to the “nobodies” in the world in order to put the “somebodies” to shame. He chose the foolish and weak. He bypassed most of the powerful and noble. This is because even though God the all-powerful and glorious Creator, He gives grace to the meek, humble, and lowly. God’s grace reaches to the lowest of men.
Jesus demonstrated this grace by coming to earth in a lowly way. This truth is worth dwelling on this Christmas holiday. Take time to meditate on the amazing grace of God. Think of the kindness and mercy He shows to the lowliest men. Truly He gives grace to the humble. He doesn’t go around picking the best-looking, smartest, richest, and noblest. That is not what qualifies us to have a relationship with the King of Creation. Praise God for His grace!