For This Cause
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The Birth of the Master
The Birth of the Master
“It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the cit of
Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem. And there Mary
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1,4,7) It was on these tranquil hills of Bethlehem that angelic voices proclaimed to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah some 2,000 years ago.
“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL People, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11) There are many causes that man has pursued through the ages – many selfish…some noble…but none can compare with the cause for which our Lord came…a cause that involves each one of us. It is a cause that, as the angel said, will bring joy to all people. A cause that will result in blessing every man, woman and child that has ever lived. But why did God’s Son have to leave the splendor of the heavenly courts and be born a babe in Bethlehem? Couldn’t he have accomplished his purpose as a spirit being? God’s Law of Justice is absolute. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A perfect life for a perfect life. The Redeemer of men would have to be an exact equivalent for father Adam who sinned, not an angel. And so as the Apostle Paul tells us, “when the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son made of woman, made under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4)
At the time Jesus was born, all men were in expectation of Messiah. You can just imagine each parent wondering if it would be their son. Even King Herod knew of the promise – but he would be fearful of such a Messiah, – as it could cost him his throne. And so it was that here, overlooking the hills of Judah, in what still remains of the Herodian Palace – Herod issued his infamous decree – all the children in Bethlehem two years old and under would be killed. We get an insight into the evil heart of Herod when we realize the town of Bethlehem was within eyesight of this palace…he could almost hear the crying of the mothers of Bethlehem as their children were slain. It was a crushing experience that was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:15 and quoted by Matthew in this account: “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2:18)
Tags: caesar augustus, christ the lord, exact equivalent, good tidings of great joy, herodian, swaddling clothes, time jesus