The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:7 {ASV}
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Joseph must have been frantic to find somewhere for Mary to rest. They were both exhausted after traveling for days. Now the baby was on the way. He may have gone from inn to inn {at least that’s how we portray it today}, but what we do know is there was no room available.
The more he heard the words “no room” the more desperate he became. He probably prayed and asked God what he was supposed to do. Eventually, someone showed mercy and allowed them to stay in a stable.
Have you ever been in a stable? You know, the places where horses, donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens and other animals are housed? Can you imagine the smell that was in that room?
Mary probably didn’t care, she just wanted to have her baby. Was there a midwife? There may have been, but more than likely Joseph delivered the child.
You know we would imagine God wanting His son to be born in a castle. That’s what the Jews of the day believes. However, God show time and time again {both in scripture and working in our lives today} that “his ways are not our ways”. When I envision something I see it one way, but God has usually proven He has a different idea and way of how that situation is going to unfold or turn out.
Mary took “swaddling clothes” to wrap her baby up in. Were these blankets she already had? Did she have to rummage for cloth to wrap her child in?
Ezekiel 16:4 tells us “the new-born Jewish child was washed in water, rubbed with salt, and then wrapped in bands or blankets, which confined the limbs closely.”
Do you remember the first time you held your child{ren} in your arms? I may not have children but I remember holding each of my siblings, nephews and niece in my arms right after their births. That feeling of awe, wonder and love that completely enveloped me. This sweet, innocent angel and gift from heaven that I was holding and the miracle of birth that had just occurred.
Mary most likely felt all of these feelings and more…more than we can ever put in words or express. As she studied each of the features on his precious face and counted ten toes and ten fingers. However, there was so much more wonder than just the birth of a precious child. This was the birth of her child.
More than that this was not just her child. This was also God’s son. God’s son had been born.
The wonder that must have been on her face and in her heart during this time is indescribable.
Photo 2 courtesy of MorgueFile
Photos 1 & 3 courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org