Why was Jesus born in a stable,
rather than a palace as the desperately longed for king who would deliver Israel from the Romans,
rather than the Temple as the long awaited Messiah prophesied about for centuries,
rather than Mary and Joseph's comfortable, yet modest, home near to loving relatives
any place other than a strange city where they knew no one,
any place other than an outside cow barn, cold, smelly, uncomfortable, and dark?
Why was He born in such obscurity? It makes for a nice story, but let's be real here.
There are so many reasons,
some now known with the help of common sense and The Holy Spirit,
so many more yet to be revealed at the Lord's knee!
The most obvious reason He wasn't born in Nazareth was that even though the scandal and whispers would have erupted again, there would have been little need to reach out in desperation for Jehovah's help. Mary and Joseph had all they needed right there.
With that in mind, let's consider the more treacherous reasons why He was not born in Nazareth, or a palace.
How long would He have survived in Nazareth? When the shepherds came, would the Romans wonder why all the commotion, and investigate? Rumors run wild in a small town and everyone knows everyone. Herod, upon learning of the rumors, could have easily tracked the Child down and killed Him.
The wise men may never have found Him. In fact many prophecies would have had to be changed if they were referring to the coming Christ.
Get's complicated, doesn't it? But for sure, Herod would find Him and kill Him!
And a most tragic reason that Jesus was not born in The Holy Temple:
The priests and other ruling hierarchy of temple greed, deception, legalism and politics, would have imprisoned Him in their doctrine, brainwashed His pure mind, and even if not successful at that, they would have made His life unbearable.
Jesus could never have left their influence.
Soooo, the most precious and important reason was for us ....the need for us to have FAITH....to grow through uncertainty and misty memories to strong certainty that what God told us is true! Mary and Joseph lived it out!
It was for Jesus to grow up as a normal child in order to display to the common man the TRUTH and LIGHT available for us as we live out our lives on earth.
The many other reasons? I'll ask Him when I see Him face to face in eternity.
But this I know...He whispered it to me as I was listening to O Holy Night, "You may think your life and ministry are unimportant, and shrouded in obscurity, but I, the Lord, have a plan for you, too. Trust Me as Mary and Joseph did. Always keep growing in faith. Your faith brings more glory to Me as I watch with such pleasure and joy.
Stay obscure so that My Father in heaven can be glorified. Just listen and follow Me. If I choose to bring you out of the shadows....let it be into My light.
And it is up to Me, your Creator, to fill out the story in the perfect way."
"All is well, Immanuel." said I.
"All is well, My love." said Jesus.
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