And so in those days it was decided by Caeser that all men should return to the towns in which they were from to be counted in the census of the entire Roman world.
Joseph traveled back to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he was from the lineage of David. With him was his fiance, Mary. Mary had pledged to marry Joseph and she was pregnant with a baby boy. While they were in Bethlehem the time came for her to deliver her son. Due to the overwhelming numbers of people in Bethlehem for the census, there were no rooms available to them to stay in. So in a stable, but more like a cave where animals were kept, Mary delivered her son, her first son. She wrapped the baby in cloth and laid him in a manager – the area where feed was poured out for the animal’s consumption.
In fields there were shepherds who were watching their flocks. It was night so they were taking shifts on watching the sheep to keep them from danger. Startling and placing them in a bit of fear an angel would appear to them and this angel would give them the news that would change the world forever:
He is the messiah. This will be a sign to you – you find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
And then a great number of angels would appear and they would sing this song one time and one time only to these shepherds. That song would be:
With whom God is pleased. With whom God is pleased. You may be used to hearing a different version of that but it is recorded that peace was wished to those who lived a life that God was pleased with. A nice little take that to some evil doers, possibly?
And so the shepherds would make their way to find the baby in the stable. When they saw him they immediately spread the word of this heavenly child who was born to a young woman in a place where animals rest. Everyone who heard the shepherds were interested and some even delighted.
The shepherds returned to the place where Baby Jesus slept and they worshiped, praised the Lord, and were filled with joy.
Jesus was born in a barn.
He spent his first three or so years on the run to keep from death. Herod had declared all baby boys in the age group of Jesus be slaughtered. He was not a fan of this newborn King of the Jews.
His job as God in the form of a man was simple and yet so incredibly difficult: Save the lost – the lost – all of us are lost, aren’t we? Indeed.
He would be persecuted throughout this entire life.
He would love the world so much that he would give up his life in the most humiliating way – hanging on a cross.
And then he would go to prepare a place for you, me, the guy down the block, everyone who has been, is, and is yet to come.
If only they give their hearts to His mission and walk in the light and give love unyielding. No, it isn’t the easiest thing to do with our human condition, but it is worth trying and giving your all to.
And that my friends is the good news and tidings of great joy.
Merry Christmas in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.