Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 14: Read Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7 reveals to us the events that led up to Jesus's birth. At that time, Augustus Caesar decreed that all people in the countries under Roman control must list their names in a register. This was the first time a registration was ordered and it was taken while Quirinius was governor in Syria. All of the people had to return to the towns of their family to register. This meant that Joseph had to leave Nazareth and travel to the town of Bethlehem, also known as the town of David, because Joseph was from the family of David. Joseph took Mary with him because they were engaged. Mary was pregnant at this time. While they were in Bethlehem, it became time for Mary to give birth, but there was not room in the inn. She gave birth to a son, wrapped him in pieces of cloth, and laid him in a box where animals are fed because there wasn't room in the inn.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, but God had spoken through His prophets that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. The young couple would not have had reason to travel to Bethlehem, especially when Mary was about to give birth to a son, but God ensures the completion of His prophecy through Caesar's decree. Joseph and Mary are under Roman rule, which means they must comply with Caesar's decree or risk punishment, the punishment likely being prison or death. The couple is forced to take the long journey to Bethlehem just before Mary is about to give birth. Once in Bethlehem Mary is able to give birth to a son and fulfill the prophecy. God could have made room in the inn for the young couple and their child, but instead He has the baby born in a stable with animals. This is not done to suggest that Jesus is the same as an animal or less than God's son, but is once again an example of a humble beginning that God will transform into a glorious ending. 

The humbleness of Jesus's birth should not be treated as a reason to be dismissive of Him, but rather should be a reminder of our own need for humbleness. The shelter over His head is not grand, but it still protects Him and He has no reason to want for more. The cloth covering His body is not luxurious, but He is clothed. He does not have a single possession and yet He knows God's love. Most of our lives will never be this humble and yet we can still learn from Jesus's humble birth. It does matter our shelter, if there is a roof over our heads then we can give thanks to God for protecting us from the elements. If our bodies are covered then it doesn't matter what the label says and we can give thanks to a God for clothing our bodies. It does not matter what possessions we own if we know God's love for us, which is the only part of our lives that will endure forever. God desires a humble heart and this is shown in the birth of Jesus. In humbleness God is glorified. 

Day 10: Read Matthew 1:22-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:22-25 further explains the rationale behind the specifics of Jesus's birth and Joseph's dream. Everything happened in order that what the Lord had said through the prophet would be fulfilled. The prophet had said, "The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son and they will name him Immanuel, which means God is with us." After this is revealed Joseph wakes up and does what the angel told him to do. Joseph took Mary as his wife, but he didn't consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born. When Mary gave birth to a son, Joseph named him Jesus.

One of the ways that God has always demonstrated His work in our lives is through prophecy. Prophecy is a good way to weed out the truth. If I say that a man is coming in 3 days and he will end world hunger then you will know in 3 days if I am right. If he comes then I am telling the truth, but if he doesn't then you know that I do not profess the truth. Throughout history there have been countless claims, but only a select few have come true. These prophecies are measured by their accuracy and their accuracy determines the reliability of the speaker. Now the prophesies written in the Bible are not as specific to their timing as in my example, but they are specific: "The virgin will be pregnant." This isn't an ordinary occurrence and is in fact an impossibility. I suppose technically that today a virgin could become pregnant using in vitro but this was not the case when the prophecy was originally spoken. 

The prophecy itself is an attention grabber because of its sheer implausibility, but it goes on and is even more specific: "She will have a son and they will name him Immanuel, which means God is with us." In this prophecy you are given 3 things: 1) a virgin birth, 2) a son named Immanuel, and 3) God is with us. Mary becoming pregnant when she was a virgin, having a son named Jesus, and then having Jesus die on the cross as the Son of God are the prophecy fulfilled. In the fulfillment you are able to see that speaker is speaking truth. God is real and in Him there is truth. This is important to realize in an age of untruth. More than ever we are bombarded by new thoughts, ideas, and opinions that all claim to be truth, but the reality is there can only be one truth. It is through prophecy that truth can be revealed and in the fulfillment of prophecy the one truth is made clear. Jesus is the truth, He is the way, and He is the source of life. Prophecy has made that much clear.

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 9: Read Matthew 1:18-21

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18-21 begins to reveal the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Mary, mother of Jesus, was engaged to be married to Joseph, but before she could marry him she found out she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man, he didn't want to damage Mary's reputation, and so he planned on divorcing her secretly. While Joseph is thinking of his plan, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him, "Joseph, descendent of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the baby in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Mary was a virgin when she was engaged to Joseph, which means that her pregnancy was an indication of unfaithfulness on her part. This was an insult to Joseph and something he could have had her punished for, but scripture says that Joseph was a good man. He didn't want anything to happen to Mary or for her to be disgraced by society and so he made up his mind he would divorce her in secret. This seems to be a logical plan to protect both of their reputations within their society, but God intervenes because Mary was a good woman and she was a virgin. In a dream God allows Joseph in on His plan for Mary and her son Jesus. This passage doesn't give Joseph's reaction to the dream, but we know that he goes on to marry Mary and that he is present during Jesus's early childhood.

There will be times when, like Mary, we are faced with a seemingly impossible reality and the outcome of that reality is dependent upon another person. God has made His will clear and so it will be done, but sometimes the outcome of His will directly effects the people in our lives. The people in our lives could react negatively, perhaps even plan on distancing themselves from us, but this passage shows us that God will protect those relationships we need in our lives. God revealed His plan for Mary to Joseph and He can reveal His plan for us to other people too, which in turn results in their support. Mary could have raised Jesus without Joseph, God would have seen her through, but instead He allowed her to keep Joseph's presence in her life. Take heart: An impossible reality is not impossible with God and He is willing to include others in His plan to ensure their continued presence in our lives.