Articles
What A Moment
What a moment! I have often wondered what the scene was like when Jesus was born. Mary giving birth to the Savior of the world. I remember when both my children were born. I remember the joy of the moment. I remember the awesomeness of that moment. Also, when each grandchild was born I remember how great that moment was.
But, as special as each of those births were, none of them were the Savior of the world. No wise men came. No decree from government officials told that young males had to die. No prophecy was fulfilled. Mary was just a girl whom God had chosen as the one to give birth to Jesus and, therefore, be His mother. Just a girl, did she really understand to whom she was giving birth. Joseph is there watching his wife give birth. Did he grasp what was happening? The miraculous thing about Jesus’ birth is not His birth, but Mary’s conception. She had never known a man.
I wonder a few other things.
When word came that a Savior had been born, did the Inn keeper know what an opportunity he’d missed to provide a room for Him to be born? Thinking from a commercial point of view, he had the opportunity to merchandise the birth of Jesus, but missed out. Why? His birth was not for sale. Neither is His birth for sale today. He was born the Savior, not a side show. Has religion made Him more a side show than Lord and Savior?
When everyone was asleep that night they were completely unaware that something had happened that would change the world. But all would come to know. If people had been aware of who was being born would they have welcomed Mary into their home to provide a nice, clean, warm place for her to give birth? Even more, if people really understood who stands knocking at their door today, would they let Him in? Would they let the Savior in?
More to the point. What would I have done if I had been there that day? Would I have even believed the Savior was born? You know, we marvel at the scene of His birth because we see it looking back. But, in that moment, would we have believed? “Oh yes,” we say. But would we? Normal people like me and you didn’t. What makes us think we are any different? It’s easy to say yes now that we know. But on that day, in that moment, would we have joined the rejoicing or the jeering? Well, how do we treat Him today? How do we respond to Him today? In those moments where we have to choose Him to be our Lord or just another man, who do we choose?
When we learn that the baby born in that moment was the man who hung on the cross and was raised to be our Lord, Savior, and King, how do we respond to Him? When Mary stands at his feet as He hangs on the cross does she reflect on the day of His birth? That day has led to the day of His death. Why? He was born, not so that the baby would die, but so that the man, Jesus, Son of God, would die for the sins of the world.
What a moment!
Rickie Jenkins
