Do you see what I see?
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
This was not a time of peace. This was a time of occupation. Rome tolerated Jewish customs in exchange for heavy taxation and relative indifference. This was the most powerful empire ever constructed. Israel needed a savior now more than ever. When would God send the promised champion to deliver?
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Joseph, a carpenter, a descendent of David. Can you hear the drums of history. They're very faint now. I can hear Micah:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
The whispers of scandal. Rumors flying. Every eye a judgment. Why would he stay with her? The baby isn't even his.
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
What innkeeper in his right mind would want to deal with the noise and mess of a pregnant woman in labor? Especially when he can sell all the rooms to more dignified clientele. So, God enters the world. A King in a feeding trough. The smell of hay and dung must have been prevalent.
Do you see what I see? Do you see freedom in the sleeping baby? Do you see salvation in the helpless? Do you see peace in the noise and mess? Do you see the upside down world? Do you see it in 2009?
This was not a time of peace. This was a time of occupation. Rome tolerated Jewish customs in exchange for heavy taxation and relative indifference. This was the most powerful empire ever constructed. Israel needed a savior now more than ever. When would God send the promised champion to deliver?
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Joseph, a carpenter, a descendent of David. Can you hear the drums of history. They're very faint now. I can hear Micah:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
The whispers of scandal. Rumors flying. Every eye a judgment. Why would he stay with her? The baby isn't even his.
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
What innkeeper in his right mind would want to deal with the noise and mess of a pregnant woman in labor? Especially when he can sell all the rooms to more dignified clientele. So, God enters the world. A King in a feeding trough. The smell of hay and dung must have been prevalent.
Do you see what I see? Do you see freedom in the sleeping baby? Do you see salvation in the helpless? Do you see peace in the noise and mess? Do you see the upside down world? Do you see it in 2009?
posted by Chitchat at 9:28 AM
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