Dec 24 — Luke 2:1-20
Contemplate: Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem because Joseph is from the line of David. The Messiah will come from Bethlehem and he will over Israel (remember Micah 5:2 from 19?). When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in their extended family’s household. So they were forced to sleep in the stable with the animals. This is such an extraordinary event! Think about all the background and the anticipation for the Messiah to be born — the King who will sit on David’s throne and rule with justice and righteousness and save God’s people. This Savior was born in a barn and his first crib was a food trough. How humble a place for the God of the universe to come to earth and begin the work of saving all mankind! This shows the very heart of the character of God. Jesus came as a helpless baby, humble and lowly, truly human in every way. God confounded the wise by coming to earth as a victorious King laying in a manger. This blows my mind! And the first witnesses of this great event were one of the lowest class of people in the ancient world: shepherds. These poor shepherds came to worship this King while the elite in Israel went about their business. Jesus revealed the nature and character of God in such a powerful way on that night. The birth of Jesus is something that should bring continual wonder and amazement. Or maybe more appropriately, it should cause us to worship. Let us worship our King.
Pray: Praise Jesus, our King. Give him glory as you celebrate Christmas.