L U K E  2 1-20

In the Roman Empire a  census was taken for taxation purposes. and to assess for military service. The Jews were not liable for military service, it was just a taxation test.  This involved the nations of Egypt, Syria, and Judea.  Details of people were recorded on papyrus,  and this happened every fourteen years . Every man was required to register in the city in which he was born.  The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was 80 miles, it was difficult because of a lack of places to rest, and of course there was no vehicles at this time. Travelers had to take their own food as there were a shortage of innkeepers.

The town was crowded, and no places were available for Joseph and Mary to stay, and it was in a courtyard that Mary’s child would be born. There  was no room at the inn, which was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place for which could be used was a cave or grotto.  Swaddling clothes were used, which consisted of a Square cloth with a long strap which was would around the child   This place in the second century would become a shrine for Adonis, and n the fourth century a Church of the  Nativity was built.

Mary gave birth to her son in Bethlehem, the greatest miracle in the history of the world, the Son of God being born as a man happened in a quiet stable in a village in Judea.

The first announcement from God, was to shepherds who were simple men looking after their sheep. But the shepherds were  despised by orthodox people of the day. The shepherds were  quite unable to follow the ceremonial rules of hand-washing, for their flocks made constant demands on them, but it was to them that God’s message had come. It was these men who provided lambs used as sacrifices  in the Temple. They were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

When a child was born, local musicians congregated at the house to greet him. Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, and therefore the ceremony could not be carried out. It is a lovely thought that the minstrelsy of heaven, took the place of minstrels of earth, and angels sang the songs for Jesus that no earthly singers could sing.

All through the Bible, readings have been telling the simplicity of the birth of the Son of God. People may have expected Him to be born in a palace or mansion.  The Christan faith can say, we have a God who loves us and knows how we live, because He lived it and claimed no special advantages above ordinary people.  Abraham Lincoln, the great American President once stated, God made must have loved ordinary people, for He made so many of them.

 Every birth of a living child is a marvelous event, it brings into being a soul that will never die, a special birth, a miraculous one, God coming in the flesh; it opened the door    to everlasting life.

Jesus was born in the time of the first Roman Emperor, and the wisdom of God appears in this fact. The Emperor Augustus, ordered a census which required men to register in the city in which they were born.  This required Joseph to travel to Bethlehem with Mary, and the time for Jesus to be born came during this visit.

On arrival, it was found that there was no place available for them to stay, and ended up in a courtyard, in which there was a stable, so they were forced to stay there. It was time for God to act from heaven and send a  Savior; time is in God’s hands. He knows when to give light to the world.  We find Jesus is not born in the house of His mother in Nazareth, but in the place that the Old Testament prophet Micah had prophesied, at Bethlehem.

The overruling providence of God is seen in this simple way. He orders  all things from heaven and on earth.  He ordered the time when Augustus ordered the census in such a way that needed Mary to be in Bethlehem.  The heart of a believer should take comfort from the fact of God’s government of the world.

We see the grace and condescension of Christ.  If he had come surrounded by angels, it would have come with some majesty.  He had no palace or mansion or great authority, but to come in the poorest way of mankind, and the lowest of the lowliest  and a love that  passes all understanding. 

Let it never be forgotten, the humiliation Jesus purchased for us, a title to glory. Through His suffering and His cruel death, He earned eternal redemption for us.  His life was poor for our sakes. The birth of a King’s son is generally an occasion of public reveling and rejoicing.  The announcement of the birth of the Prince of peace, was made at midnight without any pomp or ceremony.  The tidings were made to shepherds in the fields, looking after their flocks, not to Scribes or Pharisees; an angel  proclaimed, unto you is  born this day a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. The Apostle James stated, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith. Heirs to the Kingdom to which He   has  promisedto those who love Him.

The spiritual darkness which covered the world for four thousand years, was about to be rolled away.  The way to peace and pardon of God, was about to be thrown open to all mankind.  Liberty was about to be proclaimed to all captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. His mighty truth was about to be proclaimed that God could be just, and yet for the sake of Christ, be justified for the ungodly, and salvation would no longer be seen through types or figures, but openly face to face. The knowledge of God would no longer be confined to Jews, but open to all Gentiles.  The first stone of the Kingdom was about to be laid

The heavenly host sang hymns of praise on hearing the shepherds. They sang, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all people.  These words were variously interrupted.  Man by nature is dull in spiritual matters that it seems he cannot understand a sentence of heavenly language when he hears it.  

Glory to God in he highest, the song begins. Now has come the highest degree of glory to God by the appearing, of His Son Jesus Christ into this world.  He by His life and death on the Cross will glorify God’s justice, mercy and wisdom as they were never glorified before. Creation glorified God, but not so much as redemption.

Peace on earth, the song continues. Now is to come on earth the peace of God which passess all understanding, the perfect peace between a holy God and sinful man, which Christ would purchase with His blood; the peace offered  to all mankind; the peace which admitted to the heart, makes men  live at peace with one another, and will one day spread around the world.

 Goodwill towards men. Now is the time when God’s  kindness and goodwill to guilty people, is to be fully known. His power seen in creation; His justice was seen in the flood; His mercy is to be fully revealed by the appearing and atonement of Jesus.

From the hour of His birth to the hour of His death, and through His poverty, we became rich. Never despise the poor because of their poverty, this is the condition which the Son of God was sanctified and honored by, taking it voluntarily on Himself.  God is no respecter of persons, he looks at the hearts of people, not their wealth. Never feel ashamed for being poor if it is laid upon you.  To be godless and covetous is disgraceful, but there is no disgrace in being poor.  Just a dwelling place, some food and a hard bed, are not pleasing to flesh and blood, they were part of which Jesus willingly accepted from the day He entered this world.  Wealth can ruin a person far more than poverty. When the love of money begins to creep over a person, think of the manger at Bethlehem, and who was born in it. Such may save from harm.

A happy and blessed Christmas.    May God be glorified