Christmas in the Holy LandSample

Born For You—Yes, You

It must have seemed really strange. Centuries of waiting for the Messiah and when He comes, He is born in a barn and laid in a feed trough. If it had been up to us, we would have given God’s Son a room in the finest five-star hotel in Bethlehem. But Jesus got only a one-star motel—and God had to provide the star!

When the shepherds hurried into Bethlehem to find the baby of whom the angels spoke, the wonder of God’s power must have seemed a strange contradiction to the conditions they found. No halos hovered over Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. No hymns played in the background. Instead, they saw a poor couple surrounded by animals amidst the smell of manure. 

The shepherds who came guarded sheep, some of which would become sacrifices in nearby Jerusalem. The angelic herald told the shepherds: 

“Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) 

“For you,”—the angel said. How magnificent! A Savior is born, the Messiah, in fact. But the angel’s words gave a glimpse of what salvation would cost: the Babe in the manger would become the final sacrificial Lamb of God (Luke 2:11-12; John 1:29). Jesus—just like the flocks that the shepherds pastured that night—was born to die in Jerusalem, only five miles up the road from Bethlehem.

Why would the Lord first announce the Messiah’s birth to lowly shepherds? Why would Jesus’ life begin in a barn? Scripture reveals that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Cor. 1:27). Jesus, Himself would later pray:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Luke 10:21)

God chose such a humble beginning for such an important birth. Perhaps for the same reason, He would choose such an ignoble death for such an exemplary life. Why? 

Because God had you in mind. “There has been born for you a Savior . . .” Yes, you. And me. 

The Lord knew that we—lowly sinners—needed a Savior. Jesus came to the lowly, lived a humble life, and died an ignoble death. All so that we could have our sins forgiven by faith in Him. And so that we could live forever with Him in glory.