The day heaven waited for was here. The Christ Child was born in a stable in a little town called Bethlehem. This daily devotional looks at how God’s plan for the birth of the Christ Child was accomplished.
Nuggets
- Caesar Augustus may not have believed in the Sovereign God, but God still used Him to accomplish His plan.
- Mary and Joseph were nothing but obedient.
- People were waiting for the Messiah — they just weren’t waiting for this little Baby to be born that night in Bethlehem.
- Being born in a stable striped away all of the trappings of this life showed what is most important — salvation that can only be acquired through the Christ Child.
- We need to be open to whatever God is telling us and to wherever He is guiding us.
Devotions in the The Birth of the Christ Child series
The Christ Child Is Born
All the prophecies led up to the actual birth of the Christ Child. Luke gave us a comprehensive look at the birth of our Savior but still left enough out to call it a mystery.
Let’s dig in.
Let's Put It into Context
In today’s vernacular, we would probably say Bethlehem was a suburb of Jerusalem. It was five miles south-southwest of the capitol city. That put it in the territory given to the tribe of Judah.
Bethlehem was a small town. In the first century, it only had around 100 residents. Because of its size, it was unwalled. But since it was in the same mountain range as Jerusalem, it had some natural defenses.
Most importantly, it was the birthplace of David. However insignificant the town was, it was forever equated with producing the King — the man after God’s own heart.
Would it not produce the next King?
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To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Bethlehem was 90 miles south of Nazareth. That would have put it at — at least — a four-day journey. We like to see her riding the donkey, but Mary probably walked. Ouch.
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Setting the Stage for the Christ Child’s Birth
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child” (Lk. 2: 1-5 KJV)
Rulers were really good at calling for censuses. (Still are.) They wanted to know how many subjects they had. They wanted to know who they could tax.
Stanley had an interesting take on the census. He wrote, “From Caesar Augustus comes out a decree that all the world should be taxed, subdued, civilized, united.”
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Well, I can see that list as a viable list. I don’t know my history well enough, but maybe Augustus was thinking about moving from expanding to solidifying the empire. That is a way to start treating everyone the same.
God had His own plan. Caesar Augustus may not have believed in the Sovereign God. God still used Him to accomplish His plan.
God’s plan was to get Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. He worked it out to how to get them there. Because the Jews insisted that they return to their ancestral homes for the census, that is where the couple needed to go.
I always figured they were attached to Bethlehem because they were descendants of David. Jesus Christ.org contends that “Joseph, Mary, and perhaps their parents were possibly born in Bethlehem before migrating north into Galilee.” The attachment may have been way closer than I thought.
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Burkitt pointed out how obedient Mary and Joseph were. It reads like they just got up and went to Bethlehem.
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˘But isn’t that all we read about when they are mentioned? Mary agreeing to this plan (Lk. 1: 38). Joseph agreeing to go along with his and Mary’s plan even after God changed it (Mt. 1: 20-21).
Mary and Joseph were nothing but obedient.
The Birth of the Christ Child
“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk. 2: 6-7 KJV)
Okay, after all of that walking, Mary probably was ready to deliver that Baby.
But you know, the birth itself didn’t make much of a splash. People were waiting for the Messiah — they just weren’t waiting for this little Baby to be born that night in Bethlehem.
Why wasn’t everyone cognizant of the fact the King of kings and Lord of lords Who was coming to save the lost souls was here?
Murphy wrote, “It is intended to suppress the arrogant, and elevate all the milder sensibilities of the heart. Christ came to inculcate the principles of virtue and religious wisdom; not to swell the passions, or stimulate the wishes of ambition, but to refine fallen and degraded human nature; not to pamper the appetites of men, but to wean them from the sensual and temporary enjoyments of this life, by those of a rational, spiritual, and immortal kind.”
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By being born in an inn rather than in a palace, it showed that the Christ Child is available to everyone. It striped away all of the trappings of this life and showed what is most important — salvation that can only be acquired through the Christ Child.
By being born a baby, the Christ Child would experience the gamut of human existence. Jesus can say He has experienced everything we are going through in our walk.
The manger is supposed to contrast with the palace. Jesus is the King to the lowly, not just the privileged.
We think of the inn as the precursor to the modern-day hotel. It may or may not have been.
Jesus Christ.org thought it was better translated as room instead of inn. That would make it room in a family member’s home.
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Well, I can see that. Growing up, when we went an out-of-town funeral, we would stay with family that live there.
Let’s look at it this way. It looks like Mary and Joseph didn’t even make it in the front door of wherever they ended up at.
Spurgeon told us that the inn itself is representative of how Jesus can be shut out of our hearts and lives. He listed some overarching ways in which the world strives to keep Jesus out of our lives.
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The world tries to shut down any attempt Jesus has at knocking at our hearts’ door. It does that by championing public opinion.
Add that to the tolerance that is demanded, and the inn definitely is flying a no vacancy sign when the Christ Child comes knocking. The world, in facts, tries to limit discussion of the Christ Child.
Would it have made a difference if people then knew Mary was carrying the Christ Child, the Messiah? We like to think it would. However, in reality — for some — it just wouldn’t make a difference.
Does it make a difference to us today?
Spurgeon had another great sermon that talked about all the yes-but answers to the do-you-have-room question. We are really good at thinking up qualifiers to our stab at obedience.
- I’m not worthy.
- There is this obstacle.
- What I have isn’t good enough
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What this tells me is we need to be open to whatever God is telling us and to wherever He is guiding us. He takes us and uses us as we are.
Making the Connections
I was really touched by what Kingsley wrote. He wrote, “It was only in the Babe of Bethlehem that the whole of God’s character shone forth, that men might not merely find Him and bow before Him, but trust in Him and love Him, as one who could be touched with the feeling of their infirmities.” The Christ Child came to earth to show us God.
But the Christ Child was also human — meaning there were issues with which to deal. Kingsley also wrote, “A God in need! a God weak! a God fed by mortal woman! a God wrapt in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger!”
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What? That doesn’t mesh with our picture of God is perfect and self-contained.
But Jesus had to experience everything we do. Yes, He was perfect. The perfected state indicates the combination of the graces which, when all are present, form spiritual wholeness or completeness.
That means Jesus had the character of God. It means He did not sin.
It doesn’t mean Jesus wasn’t totally human.
God has a way of giving us exactly what He says He is going to give us in a totally unexpected way. His way makes sure the focus is on Him.
We just have to remember God is working everything out. Even if we don’t see Him working, He is working it out.
Oh, yeah. We may end up in a stable instead of a palace. But we will still have access to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
How Do We Apply This?
Murphy wrote that we have to prepare. First of all, we need to ABCD.
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The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
As part of the D, we need to realize our worth is in Him. We need to work at imitating Him.
We need to prepare for living eternally with Him.
Father God. It is because of Your love and grace that You provided the Christ Child as our Savior. Thank You. We commit our lives to You. We will prepare for the day we begin to live with You. Amen.
What do you think?
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