Luke 2 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=ESV
The
events surrounding Jesus’ birth are well known to many. It is an account that shows us that, while
the world has changed dramatically, in some ways it hasn’t changed at all. The census, taxation, travel, working the
graveyard shift, birth and old age all weave their way through what took place
at Jesus’ birth and his early years.
We
often get wrapped up in the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth – and rightly
so! We should be in awe that the Lord
took on human flesh and dwelt among us and that He bore our sins in His body to
the cross to atone for our iniquity. This
is the heart of why we celebrate Christmas!
The sentimentality surrounding a baby in a manger is truly secondary to
the salvation He was born to bring.
Acknowledging
and rejoicing in the miraculous, though, take a moment to notice the mundane. Mary and Joseph could be any young couple
traveling, needing a place to stay.
Babies are born in poverty around the world. People work in the dead of night to protect
property to this day. Folks work,
travel, eat, drink, talk, and live. An
important part of the miracle of Christ’s birth is that this is what He was
born into.
Jesus
was born for normal people. We may
perceive the people of this account as special, more saintly, or specially
blessed, but their evaluation of themselves would likely have been that they
were just going about life when God did His thing and revealed something
wonderful to them. Even Simeon and Anna
were simply and elderly man and woman who were waiting for God’s promise to be
fulfilled, living each day by faith.
Sometimes
Christians feel that they are not sufficient for God’s purpose. In a sense that is true, but God’s
sufficiency sweeps us up into His story, His salvation, and the amazingness of
His grace. We go about our normal lives
blessed by God to know and share His salvation.
Lord, I live a normal
life – whatever that means – please let me see more and more of what You have
done for me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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