Christmas Day Reflection

for unto us a child is born

Jesus has come!

artwork: detail from the Nativity of Jesus icon, Andrei Rublev circa 15th century, (Annunciation Cathedral in Moscow)

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Luke 2:1-20 :: The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴ Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵ He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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Usually royals come with lots of baggage and a large entourage to support and cater to them. They cost a lot of money and require a lot of resources to maintain. Royals are NOT low maintenance, they live far from humbly. For instance, when King Charles III came to Canada for an overnight trip to read the speech from the throne at the opening of the 45th Parliament of Canada, that cost Canadians $1.7 million. When royals come to town, they don’t travel lightly.

artwork: Georges de La Tour: The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1645 (Louvre)

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When Jesus came to our world, He came with nothing, and He came into nothing. Jesus entered the world in the lowliest, smelliest, most humble setting. The way He came into the world signalled the type of king He would be for us. He came close, He entered humanity, He went places other kings would not enter. No mess was beyond Him, no person, regardless of how problematic, was beyond Jesus. Christ changes everything. He came to light the world. He came to dispel the darkness.

image: an icon depicting the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves, artist unknown

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Born in Bethlehem, which means house of bread. Born in a stable, surrounded by animals, census conditions created an overcrowding situation, meaning the kataluma had no available guest rooms for Joseph and Mary. Jesus had no crib, and so, His mother laid Him in a manger. Manger is a fancy word for a feeding trough. Manger is the French verb for eating. Jesus came to feed the world, He came to be the bread of life. Jesus, the bread of life, came from heaven as the manna of the scriptures foretold.

“I am the bread of life” —John 6:35

Merry Christmas to my readers. I wish you all a wonderful 12 days of Christmas.

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