The Big Day Arrives

Finally, the nativity: a new-born child in a manger, his parents, and shepherds. This story may well have passed into the forgetfulness of time were it not for the child who was born that winter’s day. 

The manger was most likely an annex to a family home where the animals were housed and fed. Most children weren’t born in palaces or with good sanitary conditions; many at died at birth or when still very young. 

Winding back a little, the Governor, acting on a decree by Caesar Augustus, told everyone that the males were to go to their hometown to be registered—somewhat like a census, but with grimmer consequences in the case of a failure to do so. 

For Joseph and Mary this was very bad timing as she had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in the final stages of pregnancy. The journey was grueling and long, 90 miles. We don’t know how long they stayed before the big day arrived, but it appears to not have been too long. The census would have meant the town was full, so not finding a suitable place for the birth would not be unusual, if not inconvenient. 

Much that surrounded Mary’s obedience to God was inconvenient, in the least. We are unwise to expect that doing God’s will is always going to be, convenient, simple, or straight forward. Mary faced social opprobrium, dislocation from her wider family (three times that we know of), and the ultimate sorry for any mother—the death of a child, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” When Mary said “let it be to me according to your word” she cannot have realized the implications, but then neither do we when we say yes Lord. But yes is the only response to God, as it is an oxymoron to say no Lord.  Yes, is always the best response as although it may come with difficulty, it also comes with deep fulfilment and peace, knowing you are pleasing to God.  In other words, we are much better off even when we don’t seem to be.

The big day arrives, and Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate was born a helpless child in an unlikely place amongst unlikely people. He wasn’t born in a palace; he wasn’t surrounded by privilege, nor did he live in a century that specialized in neo-natal hospital care.  

The kings of Israel, the high priests, and Roman delegates were all conspicuously absent. Did anyone notice? Well, yes, they did, but that is for another day.

A big, the biggest, day for the world passed with barely a blip.  However, something wonderful, something beautiful happened in the manger that day. The child of our redemption arrived. God dwelling with men—God with us—God for us.