Read: Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-21
I am a very visual person. And as an avid reader I am always creating a reenactment of each scene in my head as I read. During the Christmas season I like to walk through the story of Jesus’ birth. From the words in Scripture, let’s piece together the scene.
Jesus Birth Foretold
The story of Jesus’ birth starts all the way back when the angel came to Mary and told her that she will carry the Light of the World.
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:30-33
How confused this young woman must be. A child? How can this be? But all Mary said was, “I am the Lord’s servant,” … “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
Travel to Bethlehem
In the later months of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus decrees a census to be taken of the entire Roman world. Joseph, husband to Mary, is called back to the town of Bethlehem which is where the house and line of David would be. I can’t imagine being Mary, a woman VERY pregnant at the time they need to travel, riding miles to Bethlehem. I can’t imagine there was much peace.
Yet, this travel was all part of the plan. A prophecy given in Micah 5:2-3 speaks of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem.
“’But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites”
(emphasis mine).
I think about the night they got to Bethlehem, and nothing was available for them but an animal stable. Due to the traveling because of the census, they are put in a town that is cram packed. After days of travel, the first thing I think Mary would want to do is just relax. Yet, I bet they wandered for hours and waited for a vacancy somewhere. The joy of getting to the destination was short-lived, because Mary would endure the pain of childbirth only days later.
Birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus was like any other birth. He came into the world humbly and without notice from all creation. He entered this world as a meek infant. However, the heavens knew a different side. The angels sing of the little babe in His mother’s arms, proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). Mary wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.
I am not yet a mother, but I have heard the love stories that are etched in time as you hold your child in your arms for the first time. And I can only imagine what it must have been like when Mary looked into the eyes of her new baby boy, and into the eyes of her Savior. What a moment of full surrender. She had just given birth to the Peace of the World.
With my eyes locked on the King
It is well, my soul it sings
It's a simple kind of free
When I'm with You and You're with me
- eyes locked on the king by Abbie Gamboa and UPPERROOM
Peace of the World
You see, while I’m over here going through all the logistics, visualizing the timeline in which I think the events happened, I can’t help but laugh at myself. The most important part of this story is not the timeline, the feelings, or the travel plans. The most important part is that our Messiah was born. Nothing else really matters. He is the Peace. He didn’t just spread peace to all humankind, He came to be the perfect peace for all of us.
Perfect peace is given from the Messiah. It is not rooted in anything from this world. It is not rooted in the circumstances surrounding us. It is engrained in the trustworthiness of our God and the integrity of His character and promise.
Our creator took on flesh, and the world felt it that night. The world will feel it forevermore. Through Him we can find reconciliation with our divine Father. Through the power that Jesus had over death and sin on the cross, we get to feel the forever effect of His peace. We get to gather in the arms of our Father. What a joy! The children of God have back what was once lost. What peace this gives those who receive this love and are enfolded in His grace.
Be reminded of these words from Jesus:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Cover photo by Shay Johnson
© Copyright 2024. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New international Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.