THE BIRTH OF HOPE

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Luke 2:6-7

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I remember a time probably about twenty years ago or so when my wife and I were visiting family in Long Island, New York. This was the first of two stops on our trip, the second being in western Illinois, about 25 miles from St. Louis.

After finishing in New York, we set out for Illinois with the intent of stopping for the night in Indianapolis, Indiana and resting before finishing the trip the next day. It was a long drive to Indianapolis and we were ready to stop when we got there but we quickly discovered an issue in our plans. We couldn’t find a room to stay in.

You see, back then online reservations weren’t as prevalent as they are today and so we had set out assuming there wasn’t going to be a problem but unbeknownst to us, there was a major motorsports event taking place which drew people into Indianapolis from all over the country and they had booked up all the rooms. So exhausted and with no better options, we decided to just tough it out and drive the rest of the way into our relative’s home. I can tell you that I was never happier to lie down in a bed than I was that night.

This experience rushed to my mind as I considered Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth, a trip traveled to satisfy the requirements of a census that was declared by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. On foot and moving across nearly 90 miles of difficult terrain filled with potential hazards, the couple’s fatigue level, both physically and mentally, had to be unbelievable, especially Mary who was in her ninth month of pregnancy.

As they arrived in Bethlehem to register, I’m sure finding a warm room to rest in was a top priority but unfortunately, they couldn’t find a single accommodation. No guest rooms were available for the woman who was carrying the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. And so needing shelter, the young Nazarene couple did find space in a stable and it was there that Mary delivered her firstborn child, a Son just as the angel Gabriel had proclaimed would happen. He was born without an audience of family or admirers and there was no fanfare or public proclamation of His birth throughout the little town of Bethlehem.  

No, the Messiah, this King of kings and Lord of lords who had been predicted to be born in Bethlehem, had arrived with only his parents and some stable animals present as He brought hope down from Heaven for every single person into the world. Indeed, this baby sent by His Father God, a baby who would be named Jesus eight days later, was the Savior of the world, the very Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And on this day we celebrate His birth as we find Him resting in a manger, comfortably wrapped in swaddling cloth and in heavenly peace.

Unfortunately, we know that in a mere thirty-three years, this baby Jesus would grow up into adulthood and begin His short earthly ministry, bringing the Gospel of salvation to all who would hear it before being arrested, falsely accused and convicted, and then nailed to a cross outside of Jerusalem, about five miles north from His place of birth. There at Calvary, He would shed His blood to bring atonement, forgiveness of sin, and pardon for all who would believe in Him so that they wouldn’t perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16), sharing in the blessed resurrection that He experienced on the third day.   

Friends, today is Christmas Day, the day that hope was born for us all through a baby sent to save us from our sins. Now and forever more, let us come and adore Him, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.