For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-7 ESV)
This child that was born, though truly human, was not just any an ordinary child. Even his conception and the events leading up to his birth were not ordinary, rather extraordinary. Before his conception an angel named Gabriel was sent by God to announce his birth to a young Jewish virgin named Mary. Gabriel told the girl that the child would be conceived when the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of God over shadowed her (Luke 1:26-35). Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, was about to divorce her privately over the pregnancy when an angel appeared and stopped him. The angel said the child’s name was to be Jesus for he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-21).
The extraordinary continues at the child’s birth as angels announced his birth to shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night. The angels told the shepherds that a Savior was born who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-12). The shepherds visited the child “with haste”. Approximately two years after the child was born, his family was visited by wise men from the east that brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; the kind of gifts bestowed upon royalty.
As Mary and Joseph brought the child into the temple to do for him according to the custom of the law, a devout man by the name of Simeon took the child in his arms and thanked God that he was allowed to see the Lord’s Christ. Then he prophesied, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:25-35). There was also a prophetess named Anna who did not depart from the temple. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38 ESV)
This child was so extremely special he was afforded divine protection. After being tricked by the wise men that visited Jesus, Herod the king ordered the murder of all male children in Bethlehem and in that entire region who were two years old or under. But, Joseph, being warned in a dream by an angel, fled to Egypt with the child and his mother (Matthew 2:16-19). All of these are “not so ordinary” events.
The apostle John wrote about this child, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. . . . The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:4, 9 ESV) And when this child grew to be a man, Jesus said of himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV) “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5 ESV) “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46 ESV)
Has this light shone in your heart? Have you received his light?
Scriptures for meditation:
Isaiah 9:1-2, 42:7