One On One: 100 Days With Jesus--ADVENTPrøve

He Could Have Just: The Savior who Chose Us

He could have seen to it that Mary had a clean room for His birth.

He could have chosen a wealthier, more comfortable family.

He could have settled down in Galilee, married a nice girl, and raised good kids.

He could have turned desert stones into bread. 

He could have silenced Satan and his tempting offers once and for all. 

He could have created a new heaven and earth right then and skipped running around Galilee.

He could have left the world in darkness, aborted the rescue plan, left us to wander on our own. 

He could have commanded obedience from everyone He met as easily as He ordered the wind and waves to be quiet.

He could have demanded a thousand angels help Him in Gethsemane. 

He could have brought Herod, and Pilate, and Caesar Augustus to their knees, then and there. 

He could have come down from the cross and saved Himself.

He could have come when crucifixions were out of style. 

He could have gone right to heaven from the grave and left us all to wonder if He was who He said He was.

He could have done it all a lot quicker, a lot grander; without the humiliation, without the humanity.

But He didn’t.

Because He was Emmanuel—God with us.

Because although people needed a Messiah to redeem them, a King to rule them, they first needed a Shepherd to walk our roads, seeking lost sheep. A tender Savior who didn’t mind the smelly straw and silly questions and would love the people who struggled with sin and doubt and strong wills. A Savior who wouldn’t trade the lives of those He cherished for Calvary’s atrocities.

The question has never been what Jesus could have done, but instead, what He chose to do.

For us.

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus’ mom