Hope Awakening: Hope is Born
“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
Luke 2:6-7
I genuinely have chill bumps as I begin to write today’s devotion. Can you feel it? Can you feel the shift?
The. Time. Has. Come.
I read an article suggesting Jesus wasn’t born in a manger with just Mary and Joseph present. The author reasoned that Joseph would’ve had extended family in Bethlehem, and as is custom with Jewish families, he would’ve had a room at the house. The author suggested instead that the manger was part of the family’s home and that Jesus was likely born with lots of people encouraging Mary and celebrating the miraculous birth.
I find myself in disagreement with this perspective. Here’s why: Luke was so precise in his Gospel account. I fully believe he interviewed Mary and we are getting firsthand information about her experience through Luke’s writing. We are told there was no lodging for them, no room at the inn. Yes, Joseph likely had family in Bethlehem. Remember though, he had a visibly pregnant wife and they were not married. This wasn’t acceptable. It’s possible rumors spread about their situation and preceded them arriving in Bethlehem. It’s possible Joseph’s family had no interest taking them in. All we know is there wasn’t room, and there is no mention of anyone other than Mary and Joseph in the manger when Jesus was born.
I love Luke’s choice of words: the time came for her baby to be born. Again, just reading this without absorbing it leads one to believe it was quite the coincidence. As if God wasn’t in control of the whole thing. But we know better. We can reflect back on the past four weeks and see God’s hand in every little detail.
Those moments must’ve been precious to Mary and Joseph. In the still of the night, she gives birth to hope. She brings into the world the one who will redeem humanity. Imagine if the people surrounding them knew (believed?) who this child was. A different outcome, for sure! Room would’ve been made for Mary, mother of the Son of God. Instead, God provided for Mary and Joseph in a different way. In a humble way, which is characteristic of both Mary and Joseph as well as Jesus. God provided a small cave used to house and feed animals. Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world, wrapped him with the tender care of an adoring mother, and placed him in a feeding trough.
Animals ate out of this feeding trough, and we actually get a glimpse of Jesus’ future in these words. Jesus would later give a very controversial speech that would cause many to stop following him. He would tell the crowds that he was the bread of life, and that “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6:53).
Pause for a moment and read that again.
God’s provision led Joseph and Mary to a manger, where they would lay the bread of life in a feeding trough. Just as the trough provided nourishment for the flocks, the trough provided eternal nourishment for those who call on Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Jesus had humble beginnings and lived a humble life. Paul wrote of his humility in his letter to the Philippians: “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness and found in human appearance. He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (2:6-8).
From sitting at the right hand of God to lying in a trough in a cave for animals, hope was born this night.
All praise and glory be to Him, forever and ever!
Reflection: Merry Christmas Eve! Listen to “Hope Was Born This Night” by Sidewalk Prophets and “He Shall Reign Forevermore” by Chris Tomlin. Really listen to the words, and give all the praise and glory to God!