Back in the days when the Bible was being written they used to send all the unrighteous people outside the city. A man with a blemish was sent outside until the sore healed. A woman who angered her father stayed outside for at least seven days. Lepers were sent out and never let back in again. Loose women were taken outside the city gates and stoned. To death.

When Joseph found out his virgin bride was pregnant, and he heard this wild tale about the Holy Ghost, he could have ordered Mary to be drug outside the city and pelted with rocks.

Instead, he showed her mercy. Tremendous, amazing, breathed-on-by God kind of mercy.

Then, Jesus was born. When He grew up and became a man, He showed that same kind of mercy. He always made a point of inviting the unrighteous people to come in. Tax-collectors, lepers, prostitutes, best-friends-who-turned-on-him-in-his-darkest-hour. Jesus opened the city gates and told them all to come in and get to know Him.

In this season, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came at Christmastime. And, He not only turned the world upside down, He turned it inside out.