Jesus is the supreme revelation of God - His character and His work. Even in his birth, Jesus reveals the heart of God, coming into the world and identifying with everyday people and the everyday struggles of real life on earth. God moved through the Roman Emperor and the Empire in order to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at just the right time, in order to accomplish His plan, prophesied hundreds of years in advance by his messengers. But, God fails to make suitable arrangements for a decent place for the child to be born. He makes sure Jesus is born in the right village, but seems careless about the accommodations of his birth! So, we must conclude that it was not just bad timing that resulted in Mary giving birth in a stable and laying her child in a feed trough. This, was also all part of God's plan and it reveals a great deal about God's mission in the world and his heart for those who are low on the social ladder.
