The Young King Escapes

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2

It happened after the great events surrounding the birth of Jesus, but it is a story we enjoy each year at this time. The magi or wise men made an epic journey that may have taken as much as two years. They had a guide and knowledge of what it meant. However, their guide only led them to the largest city in a nation under Roman occupation. Only later did the star reappear and stand over Bethlehem and the house where the young king was growing up. From their distant home, those wise men were just a bit unaware of the jealous rage the current king would feel when presented with news of a newborn king. The wise men failing to return to Jerusalem provided an excuse for Herod to lash out his rage and murder many innocent children. As for the young king, he had a Father in heaven watching over him and they got up at night and escaped to Egypt.

I had a wonderful Christmas feast with friends and a jigsaw puzzle. I hope yours was wonderful too in Jesus Christ our Lord and King!

Bucky

Plenty of Christmas Surprises

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-16

The day has come again as we celebrate our Lord's birth with those shepherds of long ago. The angel had said to them, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (v11 KJv). And the shepherd's response, let's go and see! Not only did they leave the flocks and come, they came with haste and found what they were looking for. Imagine having your first child and resting in the delivery room, when suddenly a bunch of working folks burst into the room, "We wanna see!" There were plenty of surprises to go around that first Christmas. When you heard what they had seen that night though, you might let them stay for a bit.

Praise God for the birth of His Son, Jesus the Christ!

Bucky

A Great Surprise In The Night

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. Luke 2:8-9

One of the greater surprises in the Bible is that of those shepherds abiding. Night, probably early in the morning by our reckoning, and all was usual for them. The usual gave way to the highly unusual suddenly, without warning as they say. The shepherds didn't just get an angel visitor in a sudden moment like Zacharias, they got the glory of the Lord shining around them. No more usual for you guys tonight. Surprises out of the darkness will tend to make any of us afraid, and the shepherds were no different in that aspect. But that surprise out of the darkness was all good news for them and us. And as if the shepherds were not surprised enough, a multitude of the heavenly host appears. More good news. And of course they had to go and see this newborn Savior, Christ the Lord.

Have a joyous Christmas in Christ our Lord!

Bucky

Pray For Them Too

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Oy! What happened to the Christmas verses? This does seem to many like a time when this verse would be needed least. After all it's the few days before the big joyous holiday of Christmas. Not for everyone though. Whether it comes from loneliness, memories of the past, lack of sunshine, or just an odd bit of 'I don't feel it', some people do not look at Christmas as a time of joy. In a similar way to when the ministry of Jesus appeared to bring a host of demon possessions to people in Judea and Galilee, the time of Christmas seems to bring on the depression and anxiety for us in our days. And for me to write joy, joy, joy all the time may leave one of us feeling left out. So, in our joy for Christmas remember those in prayer who may not feel it yet. Lift up in prayer those who never seem to feel it and struggle to get through the holidays as an annual endurance test. As far as it is possible with you, gently lead them to the Lord. Who knows, perhaps this is the year the Lord will let them out of that prison.

Our Redeemer comes,

Bucky

If Herod Only Knew

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.  Luke 2:22

So, how long was that? In Leviticus 12 we find the days of purification law were 7 days, then circumcision on the eighth day and then continue in uncleanness for 33 days. Since I was one of those Gentiles not raised on the Law of Moses, does that mean 41 days total or just 33? In either case, Mary and Joseph, and the newborn king of the Jews went to Jerusalem and the temple. How far had the word from the shepherds spread in 33 or 41 days? Apparently not as far as Herod's ears. Did he realize after the wise men left that the child had to have been right there almost in reaching distance? Probably so, but the time it took the party from the east to make it to Judea gave the little family of God's son time to make their trip to Jerusalem and get back home. God managed the spread of the word and the travel of both groups so that the prophecy given through Jeremiah of Herod's murderous crime would be fulfilled.

Herod's part is one dark Christmas story among the glad tidings of great joy, but somehow God has it all worked out for us. Praise Him.

Bucky

The Reflected Innkeeper

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

The invention of an innkeeper in the Christmas story may not be wrong, but scripture does not tell us of one. However, along the way in those stories come prejudiced innkeepers, snobbish innkeepers, apologetic, greedy, kind, ruthless, rude, and about any other sort of person one might imagine. These are all of course reflections of the storyteller and those all around him or her who make up the culture of the time. Luke reports a fact, and we in later years run with it in all directions. If there must be an innkeeper, I like the kindly grandpa/grandma type who simply has no room in their inn but lots of room in their heart. They send Joseph and Mary to the stable with blankets, swaddling cloths, food and water, and even send a grandkid or two to help them bed down in fresh straw. In my version the usual decorations on the stable floor have already been removed by these kindly but overworked innkeepers as well.

May our version of that innkeeper reflect the work Jesus has done in our hearts!

Bucky

A Surprising Marvelous Season

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  Luke 2:18

Joseph had an unexpected dream. Mary had a sudden guest. Zacharias received the shock of his life. Elizabeth got the desire of her heart long after it would seem possible. And the shepherds in our verse today got what may be the biggest surprise of them all. After hundreds of years of silence, the promised drought of the Lord's word ended in a surprising marvelous season. Angels were suddenly visible. Zach and Mary broke out in psalms. And shepherds, with no prior warning, came to town to spread the good news of a newborn king in Bethlehem. It was no wonder that people in Judea had a bit of trouble keeping up with the events blooming up all around them. 

May your Christmas season be surprising and marvelous in Christ our Lord and Savior!

Bucky