Mary and Joseph had traveled many miles. Mary was riding on a donkey while carrying a full term child. Joseph must have been extremely tired as well walking along side of her.
They had left their home in Nazareth to follow the dictates of the law to return to the land of their birth in order to be counted in the census – to be taxed.
With all the talk about taxes going on here in the US today, we can all certainly identify with having to pay taxes. Like Joseph must have felt, we pay taxes that we see wasted and squandered. Kings lived like kings in those days; and spent most of the tax money on themselves; and doesn’t it seem like that today? The Bible is not just for days of old; but for today as well.
There is no truer prophecy surrounding the birth of Christ than that of Isaiah's.
“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
So along with everyone else, Mary and Joseph went to their own town to register." Isaiah 9:6
The Birth of Christ:
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 2:4-7
So the man of God called Isaiah had foretold the birth of a baby who would become the Savior of the world. Jesus came not to be a leader in a great army to go against the government as so many thought – but He came to set the world right with God. He came to become the sin of the world in order that we might have eternal life. That would not have been possible in our sinful state – for no sin can enter heaven. Many ask how can that be? We all sin and fall short of the glory of God; and yet we still hope to enter heaven? Yes, and those who believe will be given that opportunity.
While we are still yet sinners – we are no longer bound by sin – and we do not wear the scarlet markings of a sinner; because the scarlet red blood of Jesus was offered as an atonement for our sins – past, present, and future. Jesus paid it all.
And when we accept His offer, we become wrapped in the swaddling clothes of His love and sacrifice which is like a barrier between us and sin. You might say; “But I have lied!” Jesus paid it all. You might say, “But I have stolen!” Jesus paid it all. “But I have committed adultery!” Jesus paid it all. “But I have denied God, cursed God and….” Still, Jesus paid it all. And there are those who can say, “But I took the life of another” and Jesus will still say, “I paid it all!”
Most of us are familiar with what is called “The Christmas Story;” and that is what Christians all over the world are celebrating today – it does not matter if December 25th was the actual day of His birth on earth or not – for He actually has no birthday – because Jesus is God; and He always was and always will be. He had no beginning; and no end. Since we are born, live, and die, that is a hard concept for us. But God is God.
But there is a written account of the time when He freely laid aside His royal robes and took upon Himself swaddling clothes. He was placed on a manger filled with hay. This is just how low our Lord humbled Himself…. to become as we are… in order to win our hearts for eternity – not to force us – but to win us.
Once a small boy was looking at a trail of ants going back and forth from their source of food to their mound. And each time he approached them to bend down and look at them, they would scatter. His father observed what he was doing and explained to him that he was so big and so mighty and so strong that they were afraid of him.
The little boy replied, “I wish I could become an ant and go down there and tell them that I would not hurt them!”
That is exactly what God did. He came to earth that we might know Him and know that we are His creation; and He did not wish to harm us; but to love us. But He had already given His Word and God cannot lie – that we should have freewill and the freedom of choice.
For us to have a choice there must be more than one thing to choose from. God wanted us to choose Him because we loved Him and wanted to; and not because we were forced.
God had said that the wages of sin was death. He could not go back on His word. Sin required punishment. But the loving God that He is – He decided to punish His Son instead of us – and by so doing – we could choose or deny Him.
A Parable: There once was a criminal that stood before a judge who was required by law to hand down the sentence of death for the crimes he had committed. With sorrow in his heart, the judge pounded the gavel and pronounced the sentence. Then he laid down his gavel of judgment, stood and took off his robe, and descended his lofty place upon on the court’s bench.
He then went and placed his arms around this criminal and said, “I must enforce the law. I had to sentence what you did to death; but if you will allow me, I will take that sentence for you and die in your place…but you have to ask me to; and you have to allow me to take your place. And in return, you are to share what has happened with the world; and draw others to forgiveness.
God created us. Allows us to have a freewill. Judgment must come for sin. He came from his lofty place to be the payment for that sin – and He chose to come to this earth as a helpless infant like each of us did. He chose to live in a family, to work at a trade, to be involved in His community, and to bring right (and light) to the wrongs of government that oppressed His people.
He came to sacrifice His Son; to put us back in right standing with Him that was lost in the Garden by Adam and Eve; because of their freedom, they chose to bring sin into a sinless world.
So it was important that His birth, life, and death be recorded. It was important that there be witnesses. Did you know that the Star of Bethlehem was the very first GPS system? It led both the shepherds and the wise men to the place where He was born.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.” Luke 2: 8-21
The Kings visit the Messiah
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2: 1-2
Notice that the Star was presented to the poorest of the poor – the smelly shepherds; and the riches of the rich – the kings. God still appears to us all; no matter our station in life; and He offers us gifts – not of gold, frankincense, or myrrh – but the gift of eternal life to live in God’s glory, riches, and blessings forever and ever.
Many in today’s world are denying God – many only wish that He was not real. Many will not trade their sins and lifestyles on this earth to inherit eternal life with God – but that is the choice He gives to all……Christ stands before each of us today and asks, "What will you choose - life or death?"
Comments