12-22-23

I want you to close your eyes and envision the most beautiful palace that you can imagine. Everything is made of gold, there are jewels on the throne and the man sitting on the throne has clothes of silk with a robe of velvet. He wears a crown with priceless jewels. When he speaks, there is a hush so that everyone can hear what he says. He is just that important. He was born in this palace of “royal family”. The night he was born, the servants declared his birth with the sound of trumpets that could be heard all over the kingdom, and he became king when his father died. Looking at him, you assume that he is the richest, most powerful king there is. In fact, all he has to do is say the word and every person around him will do his bidding. He has the power to condemn a person to death or to spare their life. To throw them into jail or to set them free. To bless them with riches or to cast them out without anything. This could describe many of the kings in the Old Testament. Some were good and some were bad. If you found yourself before a king like this, you would be hoping that he was a good king, so that he would spare your life, be your savior.

There is another King, He did not inherit his throne when someone died. He was not born in a plush palace surrounded with servants. He did not lay in a handmade cradle with fancy linens. He was not born of “Royal bloodlines”. Although his bloodlines were carefully chosen and prophesied.

THIS king was born of a young, exhausted mother, who had traveled days with her betroth and now found themselves in a cold, dark stable. There were no trumpets declaring his birth to a kingdom, but instead, God sent angels to the shepherds to tell of his birth. 

The first baby was visited by the “important” people, kings of far-off lands. The rich would travel far to pay respect. The second baby was visited by lowly Shepherds who were sent by the Angels. Shepherds were not considered highly as they stayed out in the fields for days or weeks at a time and did not bath often. But God told them first. The Magi would come later to see the one the angels told about. Nothing about baby two was exciting or amazing. So why did God send a baby under these conditions to be the savior of the world? Because Jesus came to save everyone. Not just the kings, the rich, the famous, the politicians, the religious. God sent the one who came into the world by low means. He grew as a normal child like you and I, except He was sinless. He learned to walk, to feed himself, he was schooled as other children of their time, he learned skills like his father’s carpentry. He worked, like you and I.

I love Christmas. People are in the Christmas spirit, giving, loving, caring about each other. It’s always wonderful to get together with family and friends around this time of year. But my favorite part of Christmas is thinking about this baby. Babies are amazing. So tiny, so helpless, so in need of a care giver. So sweet. Holding a baby and looking at their tiny face gives you hope for the next generation. I can only imagine that Mary held baby Jesus very close those cold nights in the stable. That as tired as she must have been, she quietly sang him songs to help him fall asleep. What a gift baby Jesus was and is. THIS king is still celebrated some 2000 yrs. after his birth. How blessed we are to know this baby. To be a part of the celebration of His birth. To realize that He is our savior who was foretold so many years before he was born.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Lord, let us feel the peace and hope the baby brings. Amen!

Shirlene Peterson