Advent Reading ~In His Word ~December 24, 2020
It is Christmas Eve, Mary and Joseph have arrived at the town
of Bethlehem and are seeking shelter. Mary is having contractions! She is hoping
for a nice soft bed to rest in and perhaps have her child tonight, but alas
there is no room. Still, seeing she is ‘great with child’ the Innkeeper directs
her to the place they keep the animals. At this point she is okay with
anything, though I bet she was wondering what God was doing, if only for a
moment before she gave birth to His son!
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth
her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1-2,
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the
star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over
where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding
great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child
with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense
and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11
By the time the wisemen or kings, from the east came to Jesus
his family had found a better place to stay. Still the star led them to Him. I
do not think that star was just two planets lined up as we saw this week, but
instead perhaps more closely related to the pillar of fire that led the people
of Israel in the days of the Exodus from Egypt.
They fell and worshiped the Christ, they honored Him with
gifts, and then they left. They slipped off back home to share the good news of
the King of Kings being born! They did not tell Herod, and they did not go from
door to door in the town they were in but instead they were discrete to protect
the Lord Himself and took the focus off the star that drew them to Him, and put
it on He who sent it!
Let us focus more on the Christ than the star for the
moment, because the Holy Spirit guided them to find Him and give the gifts, and
the Holy Spirit sent the Angels to speak all of the times to direct them where
to go. Let us also seek God and listen when He tells us where to go and what to
say, today and every day… In Jesus Name…