Preparing for Jesus – Folly – Advent, Day 23

Luke 2:1-7 gives an account of the birth of Jesus. There is a question that is often asked about Jesus around Christmas time. “Why did God choose to send His son as an infant instead of entering the world in great power and notoriety?”

⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ 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.

From a human perspective, God is the almighty authority who controls everything. It would be pure folly to think that He would enter our world in such a way.  We may romanticize the notion of the humble baby spending his first days on earth in a feeding trough. Truthfully though, I think if we are honest with ourselves we respect power way more than we respect humility.  From this perspective, the idea of a baby deliverer is fine as long as he will eventually pick up a smooth stone and slay the giant. Everyone wants a hero to sweep in and save the day. But Jesus didn’t quite sweep in the way we wanted. This is precisely why I believe that the folly here is in the question itself. Only a finite human being would ask such a question from a position of insecurity.

For an infinite God who enters the world from a position of absolute security, the humble move was the kingly move. God does not show favoritism that He would be affected by how we might receive him, (James 2:1-4). God is not concerned by how we view hierarchy and power on Earth (Romans, 2:9-11). Think of the most powerful, most intelligent, most respected people you know in history. To God, these people are nothing more than small children who wear their parents clothes. They walk tall and act like big people, but, in truth, from God’s point of view, the more they claim know and control the more they look ridiculous. Since I am a life long member of this “they” club myself, I must admit I am sure that I look ridiculous to God from time to time.

With that in mind, rather than pretend I truly understand God’s wisdom for allowing His Son to be born as an infant over 2000 years ago. God’s word can speak for itself.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

John 1:11-14

¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 2:14-18

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them,^[a] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.