Bible Reading: Joshua 7-8; Luke 2:25-52
“And she 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 2:7 (KJV).
Our focal scripture for today is from our scriptural reading of yesterday which revealed an unparalleled contradiction that the Saviour for whom angels announced his arrival should be born in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. We consider this contradiction worth discussing. God’s ways are very mysterious to man. He came into the world unannounced to the high and mighty in the society but to the low and weak – the shepherds. The high priest could not recognise Him but His presence was revealed to Simeon an ordinary just and devout citizen.
The creator of the heavens and the earth came into the world through a carpenters’ home not through the senator or Governor’s home. “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth” Isaiah 42:2-3 (KJV). His coming lowly in the society was spoken of many years before He was born. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” Zechariah 9:9 (KJV). His very humble and lowly appearance enhanced His rejection as He was from an unrecognized family, an underprivileged background, and a family of no consequence. God used this very lowly estate to shroud His power and glory in His Son so that prophecies concerning Him will be fulfilled. Aptly describing this was the prophecy concerning Him in Isaiah 53: 2-3(KJV), “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form or comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” His very low estate and societal non recognition produced His societal rejection and despise. His entrance background to the world exemplified His humility, what has a carpenter’s son to tell the world? Is this not Joseph’s son? was the question.
My dear reader, I am glad to let you know that we are beneficiaries of His humility and grace. He can easily identify with the poor, rejected and despised people of this earth. He suffered rejection and insult for us. To lift us to prominence He took an unrecognised position. No wonder the bible says in Colossians 1:13 (KJV), “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son.” Let us take a moment to see the profile of this Jesus Christ that was very humble to condone the humiliation meted on Him by humanity. “Who is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible or invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” Colossians 1:15-18(KJV).
My dear reader, above is the profile of Jesus Christ who paid with His blood the price of sin in order to free you from eternal condemnation, what are you waiting for to embrace Him?
Prayer: Father, I desire above all things to live and dwell in You.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo