Jesus Arrives!!

Good morning! I'm sorry I missed last week. It was the last week of the semester, and then I got sick. It was a crazy week.

So, we are inching up on Christmas, one week from today. I hope your decorations are up, presents bought and wrapped. No stress this week-right?!?! Honestly, it's not about the tree, or the presents and definitely not about the stress. It is about Jesus! While we don't know the exact day of His birth, we celebrate Him on December 25. So, this week's story is about Jesus and His birth. So, grab that coffee and settle in.

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

Verse 2 and 3-look at them as history lessons as to who was in office at the time of Jesus' birth. Now, we could dive deep for the history buffs, but for the sake of time we will forego the lesson.

Verse 4-now some of the scholars question why Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was a three-day trip. However, if one digs back to the Old Testament, the prophecy of where the Messiah would be born is there. Joseph is from the lineage of King David. You know him, the boy with the rock that killed Goliath. Well, the Messiah, Jesus, was prophesied to come from his lineage. Pretty cool, huh?!? If you get a chance, check out Luke 3:21-37. These verses show the genealogy of Jesus.

Let's look at that OT verse.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days. Micah 5:2.

The prophecy of Jesus coming out of Bethlehem. Isn't it cool how the OT lines up with the NT! I fall in love with His Word a little more every day.

Verse 5-Now some scholars state Ole' Joe and Mary were not even married when they went to register. They were still engaged!! Talk about scandal in Bethlehem! Juicier than the show Dallas used to be on Friday nights!! Not to mention, Mary was probably only about 12-14 years old.

While all of that is true, one cannot throw Mary under the bus. In Luke 1:26-38, Gabriel, the angel, comes to Mary and tells her she would carry Jesus. Why, because verse 30 states, she found favor with God. We don't know much about Mary. But if God found favor with her, I can only imagine her devotion to the Lord, praying, longing to know God, and going to Temple. She was a virgin, unwed, yet, she said in verse 38, "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May Your words to me be fulfilled." She simply said, "YES."

Verse 6-Jesus was about to be born.

Verse 7-His birth was humble, as was He. The place were He was born was a grotto. In the Bible days, it was a cave that doubled as a barn. So, around Mary was probably sheep, cows, and maybe even some donkeys. The cloths were strips of fabric. The manger, well, it was not wooden, it would have been a cold, stone feed trough. I don't know about you, but that hit hard in my spirit. Our Lord and Savior born in a grotto, cold, as if He was poor. The King of Kings was brought to the lowest, only to bring salvation from the highest! The Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Deliverer, Mighty God and Everlasting Father has made His arrival.

My dear friends, I hope this Christmas season becomes more about Jesus, than the presents under the tree. I pray for a new revelation to fall on each of you!

Merry Christmas,

Veronica