Christmas is more than celebrating Jesus’ birth. We are remembering that Jesus willingly took on the responsibility/burden of being our sacrifice which is also part of The Plan.

This is how The Plan might have come about:

The Son met with the Father before all time. Together they discussed their coming creation…human beings to be formed in their image.

“Now we will have people who will rejoice in our presence and run to us saying, ‘Abba, Father!’

“But you know, Father, if we give them the capacity to serve you and love you, we must also give them the capacity to choose to serve you, otherwise the service will be empty. And, if we give them the choice, what will happen if they choose not to serve you? “

“That’s something we’ll have to risk, Son. And we will have to have a plan for when that happens. Notice, I said, “when” not “if”. It will happen, and You also know sin is abhorrent in my sight. I can’t tolerate sin, straying from my perfect standard of righteousness. At that point, all human beings will be doomed to die, which will mean eternal separation from me, and that will tear me apart. The only thing I can think of to save them is to have someone die in their place.”

The Son didn’t like the sounds of that and was almost afraid to ask who that someone might be. Instead, he asked, “How is that to be? If humans in their sin are doomed to die, who would be worthy to die in their place who will not die also?”

“It must be someone who has experienced some of the same things they have, and yet without succumbing to temptations and sin. Someone who is perfectly holy in all his ways. Much as I hate to say it, Son, someone like you!”

The Son felt like a wrecking ball had dropped in the pit of his stomach. “Like me?” He squeaked.

“Yes, like You, Son, and here’s the Plan.

“When one person sins, that sin will be transferred to all human beings from that point on. So, everyone on earth will be born with a sin nature from then on. We need someone to be born without that sin nature. The only way to accomplish that is to have a supernatural, rather than a natural, birth.

“We need this person to be human, so he must come from a human mother. But if she conceives by our Holy Spirit, that baby will be God also. That child will grow as normal human children grow and experience the things normal human children experience. He will grow to be a man and live among the people experiencing all the things a normal man experiences, yet without succumbing to temptation and without sin. That perfect man will point these human beings whom we love so much to Me.

“Those people who should’ve been on our side will become fanatical in their attacks on this man. They will believe they are following my Laws but will have devised many rules and regulations that were never meant to be. My man will still be without sin. Those people will come up with their own plans to get rid of him because he is making them look bad.

“Finally, they will come up with a plan to make themselves look like the victim but will fall right into our plan for salvation for the world. They will put the man to death on a cruel, shameful cross, just like we planned. They will think they won, but the battle is not over. This story comes with a twist ending.

“When everyone on the opposing side thinks they have the victory, and everyone on our side thinks everything is lost and done, after three days, this man/God will rise from the dead and show the world who has the final victory!”

“Wow!” The Son exclaimed. “That’s a bold plan! That sounds like the kind of adventure only you would come up with. Of course, this whole creation business is going to be quite an adventure in itself! But,….you’re wanting me to be that Man? I’d have to go through a lot of suffering and humiliation….. And you want me to be that man.” The Son repeated. “Hmmmm.”

Then with much trepidation, the Son says, “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”

“That’s what I like to hear, my Boy,” the Father said with a smile.

There were many things to fall into place as God, the Father, ordered circumstances throughout the ages so things would be just right for His Son to enter the world to execute the boldest plan ever.

During that time of preparation, God sent prophets, like Isaiah, to foretell this bold plan. Isaiah said, “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel….For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Then, “When the fullness of time had come (the time of preparation was done), God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:4-7)

And so, when “the days were completed for her to give birth, she gave birth to her firstborn son, and swaddled him with soft cloths and laid him in the animals’ feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6,7)

The most audacious plan ever was underway.