When the Light arrived in the darkness, the heavenly Father sent his Son to the back of the line. The Light of the world, the eternal God in the flesh, received no breaks and no advantages. After an unseemly pregnancy and a hard journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the fullness of time had come. And…there was no room for Jesus.
Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius 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.
No breaks. The decree could not have come at a worse time. Mary was in the last days of her pregnancy. The seventy-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem over rough terrain was challenging, to say the least. They arrived just in time.
No room. Joseph and Mary were not the only ones who made the trip to register. The city was swarming with people. Every possible place to sleep was taken. They settled for a barn.
No advantages. Jesus was born in a little village to an unwed mother from a backwoods town and placed in a feeding bin. The word was out that he was an illegitimate child. Not quite the start you’d expect for a king.
God tiptoed quietly into humanity—the Light into darkness. The Creator in a cradle. The Wonderful Counselor wrapped in cloths. The Mighty God was placed in a manger. The Everlasting Father in flesh. The Prince of Peace in a world of sin. Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. On the cross, he paid sin’s penalty. He bought us back from sin’s slavery. He freed us from sin’s prison.
So, here’s the Christmas question: Have you trusted in Jesus Christ alone as the Lamb of God who paid the penalty for your sin? Have you trusted Jesus as the only one who can place you in an eternal relationship with God? You can’t save yourself. Only Jesus can save you. Trust him completely to take you through this life and one day carry you home.
Father, thank you for Jesus. Help us celebrate him every day of our lives. In his name. Amen.
Merry Christmas Ron. Thank you for your leadership, helping us all to understand the Gospel and preparing us for our heavenly home.