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Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Again, I often get lost in the modern "mysticism" of Christmas. The Americanized version of pop art always seems to throw halos in places where there probably weren't halos. There are overproduced choral productions and musical interpretations that almost make a false emotion and drama in a place where there was real emotion and drama.
And I think Luke 2 will back me up on this. That chapter is striking in the reality of what my Ryrie Study Bible titles "The Advent of the Son of Man."
It starts off real: "Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth." Caesar Augustus was a ruler from 27 B.C. until 14 A.D. A leader commanded a census. Very normal. Very real.
It continues real: "This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria." He was governor of Syria twice, from 4 B.C. to 1 A.D. Then again in 6 A.D. This was his first census...one taken in 4 B.C. Again. Normal. Real.
The realness continues: "And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child." Again. Joseph had to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census. In fact, everyone was going to their hometowns. Joseph just happened to head to David's hometown because, well, that's his historical lineage. He took his fiance with him. Normal. Real.
Want some more normal and real? His fiance was with child. They had to travel somewhere between 60 & 80 miles (depending on where they fully started and fully stopped and the precise route)...it would take less than an hour for us today. But can you imagine having to travel by foot or donkey, as a pregnant woman. It's discomforting enough being pregnant (that's what my wife tells me, anyway), and having to travel in a region where the days can get hot, the nights cold, and dusty and long and no clean restrooms along the way...I'll suggest it was a long trip that tried the couple's patience as well as any family members travelling wit them.
Matter of fact: While they were there, Mary's pregnancy came to full term. It was time for her to deliver in Bethlehem.
And I truly love the understatement that comes next: She gave birth to her first-born Son.
Now, I've been in a delivery room with my wife when she gave birth to our children. "Giving birth" is a painful process (even with advancements in modern medicine), and very little romance involved. It is a surgical procedure, plain and simple. And it was then, too. Some things never change. I'm sure there were some women around who helped out, maybe some trained, but I'd imagine there was the raw process of giving birth. Pain. Wailing. The works. Normal. Real.
In verse 7: "she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
No room for them in the inn? Of course not. It wasn't that large of a town...and everyone who has family lineage in that town has returned for the census. Normal. Real.
Wrapped in cloths? Of course. You have to keep a newborn warm. Our modern hospitals even have beds with warmers built right in to help out. Still, in the case of both of my children, they were both bathed and wrapped in blankets with little caps on their heads as soon as this could've been done. Normal. Real.
Lying in a manger? Well, okay...so it isn't normal or real, here. But it is practical. This stable was not out in the middle of nowhere. In fact, it was likely attached to a home or hotel, just around the back where they kept the traveling animals and such. A feeding trough...full of hay...would indeed serve as a practical bedding for the young couple who doesn't have a port-a-crib handy. And it's going to serve as a clue for tomorrow's lesson.
But for today, try to keep in mind that Jesus is NOT the "reason for the season." WE are the "reason for the season." God chose to become a man because it would be a solution to our sin problem. The thing that keeps us from him, He chose to solve.
And that reality is so much more than one verse can encapsulate.
"She gave birth to her first-born son."
And because of that reality, we can enjoy a relationship with Him. God was setting our unreal, abnormal state back into what He would call normal and real. And it started on a cold winter night in late 5 or early 4 B.C. with two middle eastern peasants, having a baby in their hometown (fulfilling Micah 5:2 by the way) because they had to be there for the census.
Very real.
Brent 4:48 AM
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