It had been a long journey, all those many miles and many cold nights from Nazareth to Bethlehem. . . All because a Roman emperor wanted to know how many subjects he had control over, so as to be sure he was getting his share of the taxes due him from this backwater land of Galilee.
And to arrive at the city of David, Bethlehem, only to find there was no room in any inn, anywhere?? Only a stable filled with straw and animals which was somehow to become a fitting place to have a baby. . . What kept Mary going? Nothing other than knowing she was going to give birth to the Wonder-Counselor, the God-hero, the Father forever, the Prince of Peace, as was told to her earlier by the Angel Gabriel. Mary knew that when the birth occurred, perhaps on this very night, her world would be turned upside down and inside out. Never another full night of sleep, at least for a while. She would probably be a bit irritable with Joseph, and since this was her first born: stress over whether she was doing everything right in raising this special child. And the worry, because once you give birth to a child, you never have a worry-free day ever again, or at least that is what she had heard from other young mothers in Nazareth. After all, you only get one shot at raising your child. . .
But she held these things in her heart, along with the hope she had that with the birth of God’s own Son, God’s mercy would be richly poured out on her and upon all of Israel. All would be justified by the grace of God and through her son, become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Joseph, too, carried many anxieties. They started when he found out that Mary was pregnant. His intention was to quietly divorce the one he was betrothed too, so her shame would not be exposed. But then this angel appeared, which he knew angels existed from hearing the Scriptures read in the Synagogue, but he never expected one to come and speak to him. And this angel told him not to be afraid. That this was all part of God’s plan, a plan that would turn the whole world upside down and inside out, and so Joseph simply had to trust, trust that God knew better than him about how God wanted to be with his people, to be Emmanuel which means God is with us. Yes, with us. With all of us. All because of God’s kindness and generous love. So that a light would appear to those who had been walking in darkness for so many years. . .
It did come about that this night was THE night! Jesus was born, and so the angels rejoiced, because with the birth of this child, abundant joy and great rejoicing was brought into the world, much like people rejoice before the harvest, or make merry when dividing the spoils of war. Tears would be wiped away, and broken hearts mended. There would be no more harm of ruin, for God’s kingdom on earth had begun!! This multitude of angels, these heavenly hosts, wanted to spread the good news of this birth, and so they appeared to the lowly shepherds who were tending their flocks just down the hill from the lowly stable in Bethlehem. So the first to receive the good news of Jesus’ birth, were those on the lowest rungs of the ladder of society in the first century. From the very beginning as Emmanuel, God had fixed his sight on the lowly, for the world was being turned inside out and upside down, the last would be the first and the first would be last. .
The Good News of the birth of the wonder-counselor, God-hero, continued to spread, even the heavens could not be silent, as 3 kings from the far east would be drawn to the stable in Bethlehem by the light of a brilliant star! These kings would come to worship, but there was another king, King Herod, who through these travelers would learn of this new king, and became threatened by him. He thought this king would be his rival, reducing his power and the hold he had over the people, and his power was the only thing Herod had to hold on to. . . And so he, and all those in powerful and lofty places, would become fearful as God’s justice would tear these tyrants from their thrones, for yes, the world had begun to turn.
And the Good News of the birth of the Prince of Peace continued to spread, as the prophecies of old began to be fulfilled, for by the touch of this king who walked in light, sight will come to the blind, the lame will walk, lepers will be cleansed and hearing restored to the deaf, even the dead will be raised to life, and the lowly poor, will have the good news proclaimed to them. All because God loved the world so much, that in the fullness of time God sent his son Jesus to the earth, Emmanuel, God with us.
God’s love came into the world through Jesus.
And Jesus spread the love of God:
One kind word at a time.
One compassionate action at a time.
One loving embrace at a time.
One healing touch at a time.
And that is how the world began to turn: inside out and upside: turned into the awesomeness of God’s kingdom, when the whole of creation, freed from the corruption of sin and death, will glorify God through Jesus Christ. So will this love of Christ continue to spread? Will the kingdom of God continue to be made known? Will all people become a living sacrifice in Christ to the praise of God’s glory??
Well, that’s kind of up to you and me. Are we willing to take up the ministry of Jesus? Are we willing to speak kind words and to reach out to others with loving actions? Are we willing to put past hurts behind and be the forgiving and compassionate people God is calling us to be? If so, the world will continue to turn, turn to the praise and glory of God, one person at a time!
And there will be joy in the world - and peace on earth.