Now you would think that if God so rules the world as to use an empire-wide census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, he surely could have seen to it that a room was available in the inn.

Yes, he could have. And Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family. He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do.

God’s will was that though Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. The ā€œNo Vacancyā€ signs over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake. ā€œFor your sake he became poorā€ (2 Corinthians 8:9).

God rules all things—even motel capacities—for the sake of his children. The Calvary road begins with a ā€œNo Vacancyā€ sign in Bethlehem and ends with the spitting and scoffing of the cross in Jerusalem.

And we must not forget that he said, ā€œHe who would come after me must deny himself and take up his crossā€ (Matthew 16:24).

We join him on the Calvary road and hear him say,Ā ā€œRemember the word that I said to you, ā€˜A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute youā€ (John 15:20).

To the one who calls out enthusiastically, ā€œI will follow you wherever you go!ā€ (Matthew 8:19). Jesus responds, ā€œFoxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his headā€ (Matthew 8:20).

Yes, God could have seen to it that Jesus have a room at his birth. But that would have been a detour off the Calvary road.

John Piper, Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent 2013 (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2013).


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