Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 24: Read John 1:14

Christ Comes to the World

The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory - the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father - and he was full of grace and truth. John 1:14

John 1:14 summarizes the Christmas story. The Word, that is the Word of God, took the shape of a human and made a life among the humans. The Word that became human is Jesus. His disciples saw His glory and they knew that the glory could only belong to the only Son of the Father. The disciples share that Jesus was full of grace and truth. 

Think about this for a moment. God became man, He became flesh and blood, He became mortal. Jesus gave up every divine right He had to the heavenly throne and became human. The Holy Trinity was well aware of the consequences of being human, the sacrifices Jesus would have to make, and the ultimate end result. Just because Jesus would ultimately rise again and return to His throne in heaven doesn't mean that His life and death on earth weren't painful. If He didn't understand pain before, His 33 years on earth would have taught Him that pain hurt and should be avoided, but He still made the decision to be beat, mocked, and crucified anyways. This wasn't a decision He made lightly. How could He? He didn't just know that pain was likely, but he also knew it was inevitable. How many of us can say the same? He knew pain and death were a certainty, but He made the decision to go forward anyways.

It is important to understand that Jesus gave up all His divinity to live as a human that one day we would be able to live a divine life with Him. He was God and yet He became man, He lived among us, and He suffered for us. Yet even in hardship, He was full of grace and truth. Jesus didn't allow His circumstances to subtract from His glorious nature. How many of us can say the same? Jesus is our example of ultimate love and it is through Him that we are able to learn our way to God. The Scriptures had stated so much, but it is really through the life of Jesus that we see how God wants us to live. 

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. 

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25: More Proverbs of Solomon.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court. If you take your neighbors to court, do not betray another's confidence. Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house - too much of you, and they will hate you. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

God wants us to remove wicked people from our lives and in doing so we will be established through righteousness. The presence of a single wicked person can dethrone a king. God does not want us to exalt ourselves, but instead to be humble and allow others to invite us to a place of honor. Pride comes before the fall and God is protecting us from humiliation in front of noble men. God does not want us to be hasty to take what we have seen to court or to take our neighbors to court lest we betray the confidence of another. It would be a mistake to assume we know what we have seen without first investigating it because we could be wrong. God does not want us to wear out our welcome with our neighbors. Our presence should be a treat and not a punishment. God's will is that we would feed our enemy and provide him with water if he is hungry or thirsty. Remember God has said to leave revenge to Him and treating our enemies kindly is the same as heaping burning coals on their head. 

He Has Risen

He Has Risen! Today, is Easter Sunday, and Jesus has risen from the dead. For Christians this is a day of celebration and joy. Jesus makes six appearances today. First, He appears to Mary Magdalene, who has come to see Him at His tomb, and gives her a message for His disciples. She goes on to give the message to His disciples while Jesus stays behind. Jesus then appears to the other women, who have come to the tomb intending to complete the burial preparation of His body (yesterday being the Sabbath, they were unable to finish it). Third, Jesus appears to two of His disciples on the Road to Emmaus. These disciples rush on to tell the other disciples. Then Jesus appears to Simon Peter, although this is not recorded, but only alluded to in Luke 24:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:5. Finally, Jesus appears to His astonished disciples, but Thomas is absent. The disciples are overjoyed and share the news of Jesus' resurrection with Thomas, but he doesn't believe. 

Jesus could have left Thomas in his doubt, but instead He appeared to Thomas and showed him the wounds in His hands, His feet, and the piecing in His side. Thomas no longer doubted. Jesus, having risen from the dead, continued to show love and grace to His disciples. Having shown Himself to His disciples, Jesus ascends into the Heavens and is restored to His place of glory. Jesus' love and grace didn't end with His compassion for Thomas, but continues today for all people. Jesus is waiting for you to answer the door of your heart, He is knocking even now, will you answer?