The Word This Week
Luke 2:1…
In an example of the lack of sovereignty Israel held over their own affairs in those days, Joseph and Mary were compelled to travel approximately ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered in the Roman census as required by decree of governor Quininius, who ruled over the Roman region known of as Syria.
This would have been an unimaginably difficult journey for Joseph and Mary, given that Mary was in the ninth month of her pregnancy. Even though Israel may have lacked sovereignty over their affairs, God did not lack sovereignty over the affairs of all men. God moved Quirinius to require a census at the exact time in Mary’s pregnancy when Jesus was to be born – in order to fulfill God’s prophecy through Micah, (contained in Micah 5:2,) Messiah would be born at Bethlehem.
Upon arriving at Bethlehem, the difficulties faced by Joseph and Mary were only magnified. The Bible tells us there was no room for them in the inn. They were forced to seek shelter in a stable with the animals. It was about as lowly a place for Jesus to be born as anyone could possibly imagine.
And then Jesus was born. God now entered the world of His creation in the humblest of circumstances – exactly as prophesied He would. The circumstances of His birth are barely mentioned - other than He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger. We have no idea how long Mary labored in childbirth, or how difficult her labor was.
The scene immediately shifted to shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem watching over their flocks by night. It is incredible to think these men were the first to receive the announcement of the birth of the long-promised Jewish Messiah into the world, but they were.
And what a spectacular announcement it was! An angel surrounded by the glory of the Lord first astounded them and brought them to full attention. And then the angel declared to them the greatest birth announcement in the history of the world – then telling them where they could find this child, and the circumstances He could found in. The lowliness of these men matched the lowliness of the birth of their King. It seemed assumed they would rush to see Him!
But if there was any doubt about their desire to bear witness to this monumental event, suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host declaring the glory of God in the highest and God’s desire to bring peace on earth in the hearts of mankind through this divine birth.
Fully convinced by this spectacular announcement, the shepherds then hurried to see the Babe worthy of such spectacle. The stable would have been very familiar territory for these men – but they would have never conceived of finding such glory and majesty there.
Pastor Bill
In an example of the lack of sovereignty Israel held over their own affairs in those days, Joseph and Mary were compelled to travel approximately ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered in the Roman census as required by decree of governor Quininius, who ruled over the Roman region known of as Syria.
This would have been an unimaginably difficult journey for Joseph and Mary, given that Mary was in the ninth month of her pregnancy. Even though Israel may have lacked sovereignty over their affairs, God did not lack sovereignty over the affairs of all men. God moved Quirinius to require a census at the exact time in Mary’s pregnancy when Jesus was to be born – in order to fulfill God’s prophecy through Micah, (contained in Micah 5:2,) Messiah would be born at Bethlehem.
Upon arriving at Bethlehem, the difficulties faced by Joseph and Mary were only magnified. The Bible tells us there was no room for them in the inn. They were forced to seek shelter in a stable with the animals. It was about as lowly a place for Jesus to be born as anyone could possibly imagine.
And then Jesus was born. God now entered the world of His creation in the humblest of circumstances – exactly as prophesied He would. The circumstances of His birth are barely mentioned - other than He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger. We have no idea how long Mary labored in childbirth, or how difficult her labor was.
The scene immediately shifted to shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem watching over their flocks by night. It is incredible to think these men were the first to receive the announcement of the birth of the long-promised Jewish Messiah into the world, but they were.
And what a spectacular announcement it was! An angel surrounded by the glory of the Lord first astounded them and brought them to full attention. And then the angel declared to them the greatest birth announcement in the history of the world – then telling them where they could find this child, and the circumstances He could found in. The lowliness of these men matched the lowliness of the birth of their King. It seemed assumed they would rush to see Him!
But if there was any doubt about their desire to bear witness to this monumental event, suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host declaring the glory of God in the highest and God’s desire to bring peace on earth in the hearts of mankind through this divine birth.
Fully convinced by this spectacular announcement, the shepherds then hurried to see the Babe worthy of such spectacle. The stable would have been very familiar territory for these men – but they would have never conceived of finding such glory and majesty there.
Pastor Bill