Event 5: The birth of Jesus – Matthew 1:25a, Luke 2:1-7
Because this text is short and beloved, rather than summarizing the text, let’s read Luke 2:1–7.
[1] Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. [2] This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And everyone went to his own town to register.
[4] So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. [5] He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
[6] While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
From this well-known story, we can see many details, but for this lesson, I call your attention to four.
- In the birth of Jesus, God used a political decree to orchestrate events to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (See Micah 5:2).
Without a decree by Caesar, Joseph likely would not have subjected pregnant Mary to the nearly 100-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary may or may not have ridden on a donkey, the Bible does not say, but the common mode of transportation for such a trip was walking. - Mary made the difficult journey to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant. We are not told how long after Mary arrived that Jesus was born. It may have been a few weeks. Certainly it would not have been a frantic race to find a place for birth just as they got to town.
- Despite His royal lineage, Jesus’ birth circumstances were extremely humble; he was born in a stable with a feeding trough as a crib.
Due to our culture being so different from those in the ancient Middle East, the idea of a stable is often misunderstood. If you have seen a “nativity scene,” Jesus is always depicted as being born in an animal shelter. The truth was likely different.
In ancient Middle Eastern homes, especially those in smaller towns like Bethlehem, it was common for families to have a space within their house where important animals were kept, particularly during cold weather. It is plausible that the “stable” where Jesus was born could have been a part of the house where Joseph’s family lived. It might have been a lower level or a back room of the house, but maybe not a separate building as often depicted.
- The Creator of the universe entered the world as a helpless infant, demonstrating His humility. All we can say is wow. If it were my son, I would have made him born as a prince and given him special privileges. I would have been wrong. Our Father knew best and knew that if Jesus were to be tested in all points like we are, he needed to experience life even as we do.
Lonnie Davis