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Born in a Stable
This chapter is based on Luke 2:1-20.
The King of glory bent low to take humanity. He hid His glory
and shunned all outward display. Jesus did not want any earthly
attraction to call people to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly
truth must draw those who would follow Him. He wanted them to
accept Him because of what the Word of God said about Him.
The angels watched to see how the people of God would receive
His Son, clothed in the form of humanity. The angels came to the
land where the light of prophecy had shone. They came unseen to
Jerusalem and to the ministers of God’s house.
Already an angel had announced the nearness of Christ’s coming
to Zacharias the priest as he ministered before the altar. Already
John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, was born, and news of his
birth and the meaning of his mission had spread far and wide. Yet
Jerusalem was not preparing to welcome her Redeemer. God had
called the Jewish nation to communicate to the world that Christ was
to be born of David’s line, yet they did not know that His coming
was near.
In the temple, the morning and evening sacrifices pointed to
the Lamb of God, yet even here no one was preparing to receive
Him. Priests and teachers recited their meaningless prayers and
performed the rites of worship, but they were not prepared for the
Messiah’s appearing. The same indifference spread throughout the
land of Israel. Hearts that were selfish and focused on worldly things
were untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven. Only a few were
longing to see the Unseen.
Angels went with Joseph and Mary as they traveled from
Nazareth to the City of David. The decree of Rome to register
the peoples of her vast territory had extended to the hills of Galilee.
Caesar Augustus became God’s agent to bring the mother of Jesus
to Bethlehem. She was of David’s line, and the Son of David must
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