Jesus is Here

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

JESUS IS HERE

Luke 2:1-7

2:1 In 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.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and 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.

NIV

Bethlehem, the town of David is a very small, but significant town. It is about five miles from Jerusalem and is also in the mountain area, like Mt Morah. We need to know this city of Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. We know this from the book of Ruth the genealogy was given. Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. We also know from 2^nd Samuel David had three mighty men, who when David was near the end of his life, asked the three to draw water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, his birthplace. So this town was important, and Joseph was of the line of David, so Bethlehem was his town. Although Joesph and Mary lived in Nazareth to fulfill a reason, so that Jesus would be called a Nazarene, it was Bethlehem where Jesus was born, also to fulfill that Jesus would sit on the throne of David forever. Now how does all this have meaning for us? Before we look at that, we also found through our research the word translated as an inn, did not mean an inn for travelers, such as a modern hotel or inn. This Greek word is used as guestchamber when Jesus asked where is the guestchamber or guest room where he might eat the Passover with my disciples, as also recorded by Luke. Jesus was not born in a barn, but also not in the guest room in someone’s home, for the owner of the house already had someone staying in their guest room. Nevertheless, they invited Joseph and Mary in to stay in the main room of their home, which had several holes in the floor over the small stable under the back of the house which would offer warmth from the donkey and perhaps a few sheep. Now the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem brings us great comfort because God came down to accomplish our redemption. There is no other way for us to attain righteousness before God without God, himself making it happen. This could lead us into a complete discussion about the law and how we cannot reach perfection by any other means than through faith in Jesus. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the most important event in all of the history of mankind, although when Jesus went to the cross and died for our sins is also the most important event in all the history of mankind, as is his resurrection and ascension. Yet, none of that could occur until he was born of a woman in the town of Bethlehem. When else did a host of angels come to earth to declare his glory? What a glorious time for all mankind. Jesus came to earth as an infant, to become the Savior of the world. Praise God, for we are saved from the dark forces of this world, and from death because Jesus is here.