December 16, 2024

Luke 2:1-7  (HCSB)
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.

Sherri Stem
Mary and Joseph (a descendant of David) were traveling on a sixty-eight mile journey to be registered. They were traveling from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the city of David. Most likely this is a journey Mary was not looking forward to making, being pregnant and without a nice ride to get them there. While in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to her firstborn son - not in a nice, clean, germ-free hospital with doctors and nurses by her side. It is hard to believe there was not a nice bassinet or an embroidered blanket for the baby; instead He was placed in an animal's feeding trough. This should show us God can take the most uncomfortable circumstance and turn it all into something great. Who would imagine that a baby born like this would be the King to save all those who believe. We should remember every day the words of a song...A Baby Changes Everything!!