A Christmas Contradiction

By David W Hall

It was cold and getting darker as he trudged on, bone-weary after travelling all day. Things had been complicated lately, but somehow he had managed to get through. Now, the arduous journey that had dragged on for days, was coming to an end.

This trip could not have come at a worse time. Firstly there had been the shock of realizing that his fiancé was pregnant! How could this be? Who was the father? Then, to his amazement, she had made the unbelievable claim to be still a virgin! This had added to his turmoil. He loved this girl, and had no wish to hurt her, but this was all too much to deal with. Should he break off their engagement and leave her to her father’s devices? He would do it privately, so as not to make it a public issue.

Then an angelic visitor had come with the astonishing news that his fiancé was indeed still virgin, and that the child in her womb was someone very special. This really blew him away and, obviously, changed everything! Of course he would marry this girl, but what of the implications? Would he be up to it? Could he deal with the complexities and stigma that surrounded the situation? But then, her potential for undeserved shame was far greater than his. Yes, he would stand by her now and in whatever the future held. But more than this, he would do his part for the babe in her womb who was clearly destined for greatness.

Not long after that, the news had come that the government had ordered a census be taken. Living in the northern province of the country, this was distressing news indeed, for now he had to travel all the way down to his ancestral town in the south. But what was worst of all was the timing of this census. It was scheduled for the very time his new wife was due to give birth, and the thought of her going into labour somewhere on the long journey made him shudder. Now, as they approached the end of the road, he was thankful that the child had not yet come, and he looked forward to the comfort of a room and a bed.

As they approached the convergence of the roads that led to the town, the traffic increased dramatically, and he realized that many others were on the same mission, returning for the census. Alas, this raised another issue – would there be accommodation for them in the town? The dreaded answer was quick to emerge when inn after inn proved to be full and overflowing. Finally, in desperation, after pleading with the last remaining landlord, he was offered meagre shelter in a stable. Things had gone from bad to worse. And then, as if the final blow, before they were fully settled, his wife went into labour.

When the babe was born they wrapped and laid him in the straw in the feeding trough. This seemed to sum up their entire journey and circumstance, but as he gazed into the face of the little one, the contradiction of it all suddenly became glorious. Behind all these difficult events there were marvelous reasons that were soon to be confirmed.

Excited whispers outside and a rap on the door, and suddenly shepherds flooded into the makeshift bedroom. Somehow they knew what this was all about. Here was the Saviour of the world! This was Christ, the Lord! They knew where to find Him for the angel had told them that such would be born in the ancestral City of David, wrapped in swaddling bands, and lying in a feeding stall.

Now it all came together – the miraculous conception, the census that called for them to return to that distant town, the timing of the journey, the congested town, the lateness of their arrival, the overcrowded inns – all these contrived together to see the Son of God laid in an animal feeding trough. This was the ‘sign’ of which the angel had spoken. Luke 2:11,12.

So what does this sign mean?

For the mother of the babe, the visit of the shepherds was a ‘sign’ that would hold her through the humiliating and harrowing times ahead. (v.19) For the rest of mankind, the ‘sign’ was that God the Son, having become the Son of God, was now the ‘Son of Man’. He had come from the highest place and now lay in the lowliest. No fanfare, no legion of soldiers, no reputation! How vulnerable and humble was He, utterly dependant upon two human people for nourishment, warmth and protection. Yet within Him dwelt ‘all the fullness of God’. This was none other than almighty, glorious God in the weak and humble flesh of a baby. Phil 2:6,7,9. Jn 1:14

The contradiction of it all was a wonderful sign.

But this was only part of a bigger ‘sign’, for events were yet to unfold that were even more contradictory than the location of His birth. This babe was yet to humble Himself far lower than being born in a stable. He was to die the shameful death of a despised criminal, carrying in His innocent body the blame, corruption and judgment for the sin of every man and woman ever to be born into this world.

So where is the glory of this enormous contradiction?

The glory lies in the fact that His journey from the highest to the lowest has provided the opportunity for us to be raised from the lowest to the highest with Him. You see, in dying for us, He broke the power of death and sin, and opened a path for us to enter the throne‑presence of God Himself, as sons of God with Christ. When He rose again from the dead, for it was not possible that death should hold Him, He took us with Him to whence He had originally descended.

All that remains is for us to follow Him there. This is the invitation of the Gospel of Christ. Will you join with us in following Him?