It is a good thing that God knows better than we do.  It is a further good thing that He is in control.  Isaiah 11:2 reveals that the Messiah will have the Spirit of the Lord and the “Spirit of wisdom and of understanding.”  This message will look at how Christmas reveals the wisdom of God in the sending of Jesus as the Christ, the Godman who will turn the world’s wisdom upside-down.

The birth narrative of Jesus is so very different than what WE would have done:

(1) – no royal procession
– mom probably rode a donkey

(2) – no kingly family
– family is from Bethlehem (the smallest of clans) – Micah 5:2

(3) – no fancy crib (bassinet with “dream center” – unisex washable removable mattress and changing pad)
– a manger (animal feeding trough)

(4) – no gift registry or baby shower
– a late impromptu party by some strangers (wise men) with strange gifts – gold is good, but frankincense and myrrh are used for burial purposes

(5) – no relatives in the hospital delivery room to welcome the baby
– shepherds… smelly shepherds

(6) – no fancy new carseat with 3 point adjustable detachable latch-able straps
– fleeing for safety to Egypt

(7) – strange family (dad dies before career, brothers think you’re crazy, cousin who dresses in camel hair and eats locust), rejected in home town, threatened by your own government, on and on…

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

• God’s Prerogative – vs 18-19
• God’s Pleasure – vs 20-21
• God’s Power – vs 22-25

Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Zacchaeus climbed up the tree
– Jesus said come down from the tree

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus from a distance
– Jesus wanted to sleep over at his house

Zacchaeus worked to make himself rich in Jericho on earth vs 2
– Jesus was just passing through

Zacchaeus said he would give away what he cheated
– Jesus said he has received salvation through faith

Zacchaeus’ life was spent avoiding financial loss
– Jesus came to seek and save the lost

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)