Folks tend to be captivated by the beauty of a newborn baby. Proud parents feel their new baby is no ordinary child. The baby so tiny and precious in their arms will surpass the best and worst family traits. Their child will become one of the most outstanding individuals to come along in their families for generations. The lack of press and media acclaim over the baby’s birth is because they are not members of the royal family.
Babies born outside of the royal family aren’t widely celebrated and recognized. Even the birth of the Christ Child was an obscure event in Bethlehem except for “Shepherds living out in the fields nearby, watching over their flocks at night.” Luke 2:9
The inn at Bethlehem had no room for Mary in her labour. So, the baby Jesus was born and wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. The shepherds came to see the baby Jesus in a manger because an angel of the Lord appeared to them in their fields and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)
The shepherds went to Bethlehem and “Found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manager.” (Luke 2:16) They returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God. Mary pondered in her heart what the angel had told her that she had found favour with God. The child she would bear was to be called Jesus, and that He will be called great and will be called the Son of the Most High. (Luke 1:31-32)
God destined the baby who was seen and worshipped by shepherds to bring salvation to all the nations. Jesus, born of Mary, was God’s Son and appointed heir of all things. Before the birth of Jesus, God spoke through prophets at many times and in various ways. With the birth of Jesus, God has spoken to us through his Son. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
The baby Jesus was the Word. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him, all things were made. In him, the Word was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-3) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us as the baby Jesus conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary.
The baby Jesus as the Son of God was the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Jesus was born to bring the purification for sins. When Jesus did this, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)
It is for us to see the glory of the One and Only Son of God and His grace and truth. Jesus, born of Mary, came that we might know the invisible God, the Father, who wants us to become His children through faith in his Son, Jesus, born at Bethlehem.
