In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
There was nothing easy about the birth of Jesus. Imagine being close to delivering your first child and walking or riding a donkey over uneven terrain for nine or ten days. Mary and Joseph traveled up and down hills in a harsh desert known to be inhabited by bandits.
God used an oppressive government’s decree to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus’ birthplace. The journey was probably the most difficult thing Mary had ever done in her life. And when they finally arrived, there was no place for them except a cave used to shelter animals.
This is the world Jesus was born into. God became incarnate in the harshest of conditions. And there, in that cave that we now call a manger, He was worshipped.
The presence of God changes everything! The light of the world came from the darkness of Mary’s womb and lit up the Middle Eastern sky. The long journey was accomplished, and the pain of childbirth was over. And now, the reward! Mary and Joseph were the first people to see God in human form.
There is something holy about a newborn baby. But this baby was the embodiment of holiness. Worthy of all our worship and gratitude. The world had waited for centuries in hope of Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph had waited nine months. We look back and see it accomplished.
And yet, we still wait, don’t we? In many ways, we are on a journey like Mary and Joseph’s. The world is harsh, our path in life leads up and down, and we ache for deliverance and the restoration of all things. We have the promised Savior, and we long for the fulfillment of His kingdom.
We Have … And We Wait. We live in the now and the not yet.
QUESTION: Is there something hard in your journey right now? How is God helping you?
PRAYER: Jesus, how can I thank You enough? You came! You lived as I live, and in much tougher conditions. You suffered and died for me so I can live with You in glory forever. Help me remember that You are with me in every moment of my life, even when I doubt. Amen.
Life can be a struggle no matter what age you are. As we’ve seen a dramatic increase in anxiety and despair among young people, we know it is more important than ever to share the hope and love of Jesus with children. That’s what we do every day at King’s Schools. In partnership with AllMomDoes, as part of the CRISTA Family of Ministries, King’s Schools seeks to equip young lives with the foundation only a Christ-centered education can provide. Will you give to King’s Schools so more children can have hope and find meaning in life through a relationship with Jesus Christ?
