The Coming King

And she brought forth her firstborn son,  and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord." 

Luke 2: 7-11 NKJV 

Looking at scripture, there isn't too much spectacular about the birth of this child in Bethlehem so long ago.  In fact, I'd suggest to those who didn't know, that this was just a normal birth for a child of that time period.  There was Joseph, a local carpenter and his wife Mary, surrounded by a small assortment of animals.  The locals, of course, knew Joseph as the man who had married Mary even after she had become pregnant before marriage.  Scriptures tell us that Joseph had contemplated to spare Mary any embarrassment over this.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take you Mary your wife, for that which is concieved in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."  

Matthew 1: 19-21 NKJV 

It was, after all, quite the scandal in Hebrew culture for a unmarried woman to become pregnant.  We can only imagine the struggle that Joseph had over this situation.  It says much about this man that his concern was to spare any embarrassment to Mary.  Early on, we get a good glimpse of the parents of the future Lord Jesus.  

We normally associate the birth of royalty with alot of celebration and attention.  This Christ child, however, had one of the most humble births of any king in history.  I believe this was yet another part of Gods perfect plan for our savior.  After all, the savoir of all mankind was to be born outdoors in a stable amongst his parents and a few animals.  Can you think of any more humble beginings?  His birth was not celebrated much by men, but this child would  one day become the centerpiece of Gods perfect plan for mankinds redemption.  Despite his lowly origins, he was indeed royalty.  We know the boys parents had to know of the importance of their sons birth, they had been shown that by the angel of the Lord.  However, we are not given too much information in scripture of the early years and family life of young Jesus.  We caan assume from history that he learned at the feet of his father Joseph in his carpentry trade, this was how things were done.  As in his birth, the growth and maturity of Jesus was that of a humble man.  This was not the life of a king, but of a typical Jewish child of the time.  From his birth in a manger to his death on a Roman cross, the world would come to know this man and his selfless sacrafice.

 Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates

 When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake

 If they know half the things I've done they'll never let me in

 Then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again

  They said let me tell you a secret about a fathers love

  A secret that my daddy said was just between us

  See Daddys don't just love their children every now and then

  It's a love without end Amen

"Love Without End, Amen"

George Strait 

~Scott~