PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 2:1-7
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.” (Luke 2:7)
This line is meant to surprise us; this is hardly a royal birth!?
Caesar Augustus issues decrees, and people scramble to do what he says.
Even the covenant people, and the royal family, move when told to.
And even the soon-to-be born Messiah of God is affected.
No royal welcome, no army escort, no big celebration for this king.
‘No room available’ for the messiah, as he would one day discover.
Luke records this after the fact, with Jesus’s death and resurrection in mind.
He will show how this same indignity will be shown on a wooden cross.
Born with the animals, killed with the criminals… our messiah!?
God in Jesus shows how redemption works: humility and grace.
The Jesus Way is the way of serving, kneeling, going beneath to lift up.
The Jesus Way identifies and joins with the least and the lowest.
Religious and political powers dominate from above; God goes to the bottom.
As Jesus followers, this is where God meets us, and invites us to join him.
PRAYER
Lord, you are calling me to serve all people with humility and grace. Help me to see all people, no matter how ‘low’, as equals with Jesus and me!
“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” There is no doubt of the humble circumstances and we may think it awful – in Cambodia, the people didn’t think it that unusual at all. Typically when city people go to visit their families in the rural villages and there is no more room on the first dwelling floor which is above ground, people will stay on the ground floor underneath it where the animals are usually kept and the household do their food preparation, cooking, eating and washing etc. It’s primitive but safe and out of the weather. That is not to minimize the great transition for the ‘son of God’ – to live among the mess, the germs etc. – and especially dealing with evil and sin. Lord Jesus, you entered in and were immersed! You took on sin and met the price of our human rebellion and defeated it. Help us live lives of victory in your name!
Travelling together – I wonder what their conversations were like?
Building a family together, life together, dreaming together.
Home is where discover what family is all about – loving one another, sacrificing for one another, all within His purpose for our lives. Home is where the heart is and as a follower of Christ Jesus we can never wander aimlessly for our faith in Christ. He is our home and in Him we build a God honouring home, following His lead and guidance all our days.
Jesus, with thy church abide;
be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,
while on earth her faith is tried:
we beseech thee, hear us.