Christmas Carols

Mary and Joseph had already traveled over eighty miles by the time they saw the big city of Jerusalem rise up on it’s mount. Only four more to go beyond that to get to Bethlehem. This was their destination, along with many other travelers who were spread out all over the landscape to be counted in the Roman Empire. All were registering in the town of their family lineage and Joseph was in the line of David. Because it had been a fortified city in David’s day, many people were making their way to Bethlehem. Now under Roman rule, it had decreased in significance and size so that the small village could not contain all who came.

“Away in a manger no crib for a bed…”

We often hear Luke 2:7 quoted at this part of the story, “And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.” If only Mary had the Priceline or Travelocity app! They could have booked a room in advance at the lowest possible price. C’mon Joseph, Wander Wisely! But in fact, Joseph and Mary weren’t the travel planners for this journey. This trip had been planned long ago by Jesus’ real Father and the accommodations were exactly what He wanted. 

“The First Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,on a cold winter's night that was so deep.”

Between the Temple Mount of Jerusalem and the small hills of Bethlehem is a field. The location of this field was prime to worshippers long ago, when they went to the temple to make their sacrifices. Instead of transporting sheep on the long walk from their homes to the temple, people would often stop in this field instead. It was a convenient spot to purchase their sacrificial lambs with the temple just right up the hill. The sheep in this field were born for one purpose- to die. They took the payment of death as a sacrifice for the sins of their owner. It was a stop-gap though, as one lamb’s payment didn’t go very far. It would be like having a maxed out credit card with a ridiculous interest rate and only ever making the minimum payment, while still using it again and again and again. Church nowadays evokes a picture of an echo-y stained glass cathedral. In their day, it was more like a bloody butcher shop. 

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”

God saw the problem. Sin cannot be defeated by sinners. Death cannot be overcome by mortality. And lamb blood has no lasting power. His own blood, God blood, must pay the price for sin. Life itself must defeat death. 

“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright., Round yon virgin, mother and Child.”

Mary was overshadowed by God’s own Spirit, impregnated with His seed, Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man. She was from Nazareth- ordinary. Again, all part of the divine plan. Humanity itself must house the Holiness of God for His payment to be authentic. The currency must be the genuine defeat of every temptation of man. Sin nature and free will must play their part in full or the restitution is fake and hollow. 

Mary provided not perfection, but a willing heart of faith and a sin-nature, the only requirements for all who say yes to Jesus.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, their lodging was waiting for them. They had a reservation, made before time began in the shepherds field. Temple sheep are born there. God’s Son, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, had to be born there. Shepherds were the first to arrive- not that a lamb being born was anything new to them, but because angels pressing their noses against the window of time crashed through with their announcement: 

“Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!  Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Born that man no more may die…”

Our sacrifice for sin is not consumed by death, but overcomes it. Jesus is the Source of eternal life for all who will partake! The provider becomes the provision. This is your sign- look for a Babe, lying in a manger, a feeding trough for sheep. Come, all you who are hungry. Come all you who are heavy laden with sin. No more falling short with your own efforts. No more trying. There is no try with Jesus.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,  O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels!”

A King has been born! A King like no other. What King pays for all? Isn’t that the opposite of earthly kings? Don’t their royal subjects pay them? What earthly king offers a free will entrance into a kingdom?

All are welcome in the Kingdom of God. He is a King who rules, not by the fist, but by the heart. Grace abounds. Death is defeated. What is impossible with man, defeat of sin, is now possible with God, a victorious life!

“O come let us adore Him.

For He alone is worthy.

We give You all the glory,

Christ the Lord.”