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在圣诞故事剧的舞台中央，我们会看到一个被破布包裹着的婴孩躺在一个临时搭建的摇篮里。就此场景本身而言，其实并不罕见。所有婴孩都会在相应的时间点和地点出现。无论妈妈们是否准备好了，她们都得去处理。无论婴儿出生在医院、在出租车上，或是在厨房地板上，她们都能够去应对。

这里最不寻常的，并不是那些破布：马利亚即兴创作，使用现有的材料做成摇篮。不寻常的也不是马槽：那不过是解决紧急情况的一个聪明的办法。不，这里最不寻常的是婴孩本身。

看，这个婴孩长着和普通人一样的手指和脚趾；你能想像马利亚掰着它们数了数。这个婴孩有着婴孩常见的光滑、柔软的皮肤；不难想像马利亚会很喜欢祂的小脸蛋。这个婴孩发出的声音也都是常见的咕咕声、咯咯声、哇哇的哭声；毋庸置疑，这对马利亚来说如同天籁，妙不可言。

这个婴孩的不寻常之处，并非祂的血肉之躯，不在于祂的外表，也不在于祂的行为。不，祂的不同在于祂婴孩般的无助背后隐藏的身份。因为这个婴孩就是神自己成为肉身，“万物是藉着他造的”。（参约 1:3）这是一个奇迹。

At the very heart of Christmas we find a rag-wrapped baby lying in a makeshift crib. By itself, that's not so unusual. Babies show up when and where they happen to be born. Mothers have to deal with it, ready or not. And they do, whether the baby is delivered in a hospital, in a taxicab, or on a kitchen floor.

What's unusual here is not the rags. Mary improvised, using what was available. And what's unusual is not the manger. That was just a smart solution to an urgent need. No, what's unusual here is the baby himself.

Now, this baby has the usual number of fingers and toes. You just know that Mary counts them. This baby has the usual smooth, soft skin. You just know that Mary adores his little cheeks. And this baby makes all the usual sounds: coos and gurgles and wails. You just know that Mary takes in these sounds as sweet music.

What's unusual about this baby is not his actual flesh and blood, not his appearance, not his behavior. No, what's unusual about this baby is the identity veiled by his helpless human form. Because this baby is the God "through [whom] all things were made" (John 1:3). This is a wonder.