Many times when we reflect on advent, we have a tendency to just run through the motions of the story of the birth of Christ. Maybe, it is that we have been taught the story for decades and we believe we know it. We pray this year that you have a fresh awakening to the miracle of the birth of Christ.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration whenQuirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. —Luke 2:1-20
Imagine 400 years of silence ended with the foretold birth of a child. The amount of prophecies fulfilled with this birth is magtitudinal. The miracle that the God of the universe would send His Son in the most humble of beginnings is too big to even wrap our minds around. And the circumstances of that birth could not have been more ordinary yet extraordinary at the same time.
“The birth of Jesus is the grandest light of history, the sun in the heavens of all time. It is the pole-star of human destiny, the hinge of chronology, the meeting-place of the waters of the past and the future.”—Charles Spurgeon
“God did not send His heavenly angelic hordes to accomplish His majestic purpose, but He sent a tiny, tender, helpless babe in the person of His son.” —Billy Graham
This should lead us to, “make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Imagine 400 years of darkness, no word from God, sin and slaughter surround the Israelites and then God humbles Himself to two parents of David’s line and once again arrives on Earth. Luke paints the scene so well and as the years progressed, we have added our own take on the story. Yes, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for a census, fulfilling the Micah prophecy:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is rom of old, from ancient days. —Micah 5:2
However, many versions for children and adults have added innkeepers, a hotel like atmosphere and more. How would we have enough parts in the Christmas plays, after all, without the added characters? While Luke uses the term “inn” in the story, it is not like an “inn” that we have here in America. The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the Greek word translated “inn” here is kataluma. It means a place of rest, usually a guest room. Luke uses the same word later and it is translated as guest room or upper room (Luke 22:11). Likely, there was no space for Mary and Joseph in the house so they were led to an area where the animals would have been brought in at night. There, a manger would be used as a makeshift crib for this baby.
There is the good news of the gospel! The God of all the universe loved His people so much that he came to a poor couple resting among the animals, fulfilling prophecy, and ending the darkness! And why did The God of the universe do this? To save us! To save us from our own darkness and bring light to us!
“THE birth of our Lord Jesus Christ into this world is a wellspring of pure, unmingled joy.” —Charles Spurgeon
We pray as you meditate on the scriptures today that you are overcome with “pure, unmingled joy” and fee the urge to shout from the rooftops and mountains that our savior was born to take away our sins and for this, we should celebrate!
Family Activities
Spend some time as the family watching The Chosen’s story of the birth of Christ.
