Day 23: Birth of the Messiah

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."  Luke 2:6-7

Main Character:  Jesus
Scripture:  Luke 2:1-7
Symbol:  Manger

The initial results of the 2010 United States Census were released just a few days ago.  This year, the government received the highest response than any year in the past.  About 74% of households returned their surveys by mail, and the rest were collected through a door-to-door campaign.  If you are like me, you remember the endless television commercials explaining the census process that also encouraged families to respond as soon as possible.  This information is extremely important as it is used to delegate representative seats and helps to determine how over $20 billion in federal funds are distributed.

Luckily for us, we can fill out the simple ten response questionnaire and stick it in the mail.  Things were much different when the census was conducted the year of Christ's birth.  Instead of mail in response, every male was require to return to his hometown.  Joseph and Mary definitely did not want to be separated at this late stage of her pregnancy, so she decided to make the seventy mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem along with him.  Having two children of my own, I can't imagine sitting on a donkey for seventy miles at nine months pregnant!

There was no such thing as searching the Internet for a room on Priceline before heading out the door.  Joseph found himself without a place for his family to lay their heads once they arrived in Bethlehem late at night.  All the hotel rooms were full, and innkeeper's dream; Mary would find herself taking shelter in a manger instead of finding comfort on a plush bed.

Despite all this discomfort, the Christ child was born fulfilling all of the prophecies we have studied this month.  Just imagine what it would have been like to actually hear the cry of God.  After all the public shame of being pregnant out of wedlock, after nine months of physically carrying a baby, after a seventy mile journey, after sleeping in a cave - how wonderful it must have been to hear that little baby cry out as if expelling all the joy and frustration you had felt at once.  It was all worth it because the Messiah was born!

Ponder Points:

• God has never promised us that fulfilling his plan for our lives will be easy.  Have you ever felt frustrated at how your life is playing out?
• Discuss how Joseph and Mary must have felt the moment that they heard Jesus cry.  Do you ever wish you could actually hear the voice of God.
• Remind your children that in a few days we will celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Start getting excited today!
• As a special treat, check out this video:  A Social Network Christmas