Photo by Dimitri Castrique at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1120444

Someone goofed! Christmas started on the wrong side of town. King Jesus should have been born in a palace, not a stable with animals butting each other and moldy hay — Hardly the place for a King.

“Who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Phil. 2:6-7).

Jesus crossed the eternal divide and entered the universe’s red-light district — planet Earth. He was unconcerned about His reputation, unafraid of the violence I would inflict, nor offended by the disease I carried.

“I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people” (Lev. 26:11-12).

He was just a squawking baby, crudely dressed, who grew into a man. He ached, he tired, he cried. He got exasperated. He was misunderstood — then nailed to a tree.

“He humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8)!

An orgy raged in Hell when Jesus died. But the dead Man walked on the third day. The temple curtain ripped, and my debt was paid!

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor” (Is. 9:24-25).

Grasping hands of envy and pride, selfishness and desire tug at me from the human cesspool. My foot is slipping! But Jesus, my Savior, rescues me and gives me a firm place to stand with head held high.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 7:24-25)!

Now Jesus sits beside the Father in Heaven. He defends me from my accuser, He perfects me, and prepares a place in His home for me to be with Him forever.

“…God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

I was born on the wrong side of town, too.

“….There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” (Rom. 3:10-11).

But I celebrate the “child who was born, the son who was given” the God-man who died and rose again for me. With Isaiah and thousands before and after me, I say,

“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6).

Was Christmas a mistake?

Copyright © 2010 by David Harlen Brooks