Your life experience has perhaps already convinced you of the fact that
A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING,
the title of a little book I read several weeks ago.
And, at Christmas time we are reminded that there was one baby,
JESUS,
who, indeed, DID change everything!
The Jewish nation was looking for a king when Jesus was born,
someone who would rescue them from Roman rule.
He was recognized and worshiped by the common people
as well as those from afar,
while the priests who awaited the coming of their Messiah
failed to acknowledge Him as the Son of God
because He challenged their traditions and man-made laws.
They sought His death.
Mary, when she responded to the angel's message
that she would, as a virgin, conceive (through the power of the Holy Spirit)
and give birth to the Son of God, believed.
She agreed to co-operate with God's plan.
It did not mean that her life was easy because of that.
She shared with the one to whom she was betrothed (engaged).
He wrestled with it, until an angel of the Lord confirmed what Mary'd told him.
Except for her elderly Aunt Elisabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist,
and with whom she spent several months,
she did not tell others of the Gift she carried within.
To do so would likely have resulted in her being stoned,
for who would believe a pregnancy could happen except by the will of man?
Joseph and Mary needed to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a Roman census
right before the child was to be born,
a strenuous 3-day trek of 97 miles, made by foot or riding on a donkey.
The baby was born in an unfamiliar place, without extended family for support.
King Herod, when he learned, from the magi,
that the King of the Jews was born, met with the Jewish priests
to determine the location of His birth.
Learning that it was in Bethlehem and feeling his throne threatened,
King Herod determined to see that the child was killed.
So he issued an order that all baby boys, aged 2 years and under, be killed
in and around Bethlehem.
Joseph, warned in a dream of this plan prior to its issuance,
left the area with Mary and the baby during the night and headed to Egypt,
where they lived until King Herod died.
When they did return to the land of Israel, Joseph thought it best
to settle in a district outside Judea, called Galilee, in the town of Nazareth.
As a child of 12, Jesus talked with the priests in the Temple at Jerusalem
and they were amazed at His knowledge of the Scripture.
Jesus' presence here on earth brought change
into Mary's life, Joseph's life, the Jewish and the Roman worlds,
and it has continued to bring change into the lives of those who seek to follow Him.
When Jesus was baptized and started His public ministry.
He did not fit well the picture people had of a king.
He lived simply.
He related to all people, giving no preferential treatment.
He saw the needs of those around Him and compassionately addressed them.
He called people to follow Him, to learn from Him.
He taught in ways that all could understand His teaching.
He provided answers to people's questions,
answers that stretched their understanding of who He was,
His mission in life,
and how that would all come about.
Some people followed Him because of the miracles He did.
They wanted more – for selfish reasons.
Some people followed Him because they were seeking opportunity to kill Him.
His teaching convicted them and their pride kept them from acknowledging their sin,
so they sought a way to get Him out of the picture,
thinking they could then live as they wanted to.
But some people followed Him because they were hungry spiritually
and sensed, within. that He was the Bread of Life,
that He was The Way,
that He was the Light of the World,
that He, and all that He spoke, was Truth.
And it is these people that truly discovered the truth that
Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem, changes everything!
As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas,
remember that the story doesn't stop there.
He took our sin on Himself and was crucified in our place,
so that, by believing in faith
that He did all that was necessary for our salvation
and accepting Him as Savior and Lord of our lives,
we can live, gratefully obedient, worshiping and serving Him forever!
That is JOY in the truest sense of the word,
that is the reason we can sing Joy to the World,
not only at Christmas ~ but throughout the entire year!
Twila Charles Leichty
Christmas 2009
A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING,
the title of a little book I read several weeks ago.
And, at Christmas time we are reminded that there was one baby,
JESUS,
who, indeed, DID change everything!
The Jewish nation was looking for a king when Jesus was born,
someone who would rescue them from Roman rule.
He was recognized and worshiped by the common people
as well as those from afar,
while the priests who awaited the coming of their Messiah
failed to acknowledge Him as the Son of God
because He challenged their traditions and man-made laws.
They sought His death.
Mary, when she responded to the angel's message
that she would, as a virgin, conceive (through the power of the Holy Spirit)
and give birth to the Son of God, believed.
She agreed to co-operate with God's plan.
It did not mean that her life was easy because of that.
She shared with the one to whom she was betrothed (engaged).
He wrestled with it, until an angel of the Lord confirmed what Mary'd told him.
Except for her elderly Aunt Elisabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist,
and with whom she spent several months,
she did not tell others of the Gift she carried within.
To do so would likely have resulted in her being stoned,
for who would believe a pregnancy could happen except by the will of man?
Joseph and Mary needed to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a Roman census
right before the child was to be born,
a strenuous 3-day trek of 97 miles, made by foot or riding on a donkey.
The baby was born in an unfamiliar place, without extended family for support.
King Herod, when he learned, from the magi,
that the King of the Jews was born, met with the Jewish priests
to determine the location of His birth.
Learning that it was in Bethlehem and feeling his throne threatened,
King Herod determined to see that the child was killed.
So he issued an order that all baby boys, aged 2 years and under, be killed
in and around Bethlehem.
Joseph, warned in a dream of this plan prior to its issuance,
left the area with Mary and the baby during the night and headed to Egypt,
where they lived until King Herod died.
When they did return to the land of Israel, Joseph thought it best
to settle in a district outside Judea, called Galilee, in the town of Nazareth.
As a child of 12, Jesus talked with the priests in the Temple at Jerusalem
and they were amazed at His knowledge of the Scripture.
Jesus' presence here on earth brought change
into Mary's life, Joseph's life, the Jewish and the Roman worlds,
and it has continued to bring change into the lives of those who seek to follow Him.
When Jesus was baptized and started His public ministry.
He did not fit well the picture people had of a king.
He lived simply.
He related to all people, giving no preferential treatment.
He saw the needs of those around Him and compassionately addressed them.
He called people to follow Him, to learn from Him.
He taught in ways that all could understand His teaching.
He provided answers to people's questions,
answers that stretched their understanding of who He was,
His mission in life,
and how that would all come about.
Some people followed Him because of the miracles He did.
They wanted more – for selfish reasons.
Some people followed Him because they were seeking opportunity to kill Him.
His teaching convicted them and their pride kept them from acknowledging their sin,
so they sought a way to get Him out of the picture,
thinking they could then live as they wanted to.
But some people followed Him because they were hungry spiritually
and sensed, within. that He was the Bread of Life,
that He was The Way,
that He was the Light of the World,
that He, and all that He spoke, was Truth.
And it is these people that truly discovered the truth that
Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem, changes everything!
As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas,
remember that the story doesn't stop there.
He took our sin on Himself and was crucified in our place,
so that, by believing in faith
that He did all that was necessary for our salvation
and accepting Him as Savior and Lord of our lives,
we can live, gratefully obedient, worshiping and serving Him forever!
That is JOY in the truest sense of the word,
that is the reason we can sing Joy to the World,
not only at Christmas ~ but throughout the entire year!
Twila Charles Leichty
Christmas 2009
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