Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way… (Matthew 1:18 ESV)
One Way
One way streets seem to go against the American Way. We unrealistically yearn for the Wild West when we drive. We desire to drive where we want, when we want, and how we want. When our desired destination is right over there, it almost hurts that we have to drive blocks out of our way to get there.
One way is frustrating in more situations than driving. Ever since Adam, we desire to live our lives OUR way. Not God’s way.
So when Matthew describes Jesus’ birth, it is almost jolting to read him write, that there was A WAY in which the Incarnation took place. Despite our desires, Jesus was not born in any old way. Jesus was born in THIS way.
And when Christ teaches like that, He tells is that He is THE way, THE truth, and THE life. (John 14:6 ESV)
At Christmas time, when we read and consider THE Christmas Story, it is a grand time to re-center ourselves on CHRIST’S Way. It is a grand time to divert ourselves from OUR way.
His way is THE way. And HIS way is better than any other way.