"1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, "FEAR NOT", "for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST THE LORD.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the LORD has made known to us."
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising GOD for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
It is widely recognized that the Gospel of Luke presents the most comprehensive depiction of the birth of JESUS CHRIST. In contrast to the picture presented by Dr. Luke, a few days ago I observed a church displaying decorations and mementos of grandeur display in an ornate cathedral for the KING who made HIS entrance into this world in a much different vein.
The inhabitants of the world of 2000 years ago did not make a big deal over the birth of the Saviour of mankind! However an "angel and a multitude of the heavenly host" did! Can you imagine having a heavenly choir PRAISING GOD saying "Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom HE is pleased" announcing a birth today? At the very least, why weren't the hierarchy of The Church, the ones who were well versed in scripture, prepared and looking for "GOD IN HUMAN FLESH" to make HIS appearance? Why didn't they have any idea that GOD was about to make HIS presence known to ALL the world?
Not being a biblical scholar, I don't have the answers to most questions. But I do have some interesting suppositions. Might JESUS have come as a poor carpenters son instead of regal royalty to let us know that wealth and fame are NOT where/what HIS Kingdom is all about! Could everyone have been looking for some majestic entrance, yet they missed it when GOD came to manifest HIMSELF to mankind as a servant? "GOD IN HUMAN FLESH" was laying in a cattle feed trough and the only ones who acknowledged HIS appearance was the ones who recognized HIM, the Angels and heavenly hosts! Maybe HIS Spirit wasn't subject to the same maturation process as HIS body? Maybe HE exhibited some of this in Luke 2:47 when scripture records "And ALL who heard HIM were amazed at HIS understanding and HIS answers".
How many times have we seen GOD appear right before our very eyes and we aren't looking for HIM because we are focused on other things! Could it be that we don't recognize "GOD IN HUMAN FLESH" because we aren't familiar enough with HIM? The birth of a child, the near-miss automobile accident, or maybe some medical scare? Could it be that "GOD works in mysterious ways" is not just a comforting statement, but a truth beyond explanation? What if it happened in my life today that "GOD IN HUMAN FLESH" appeared? Will I be looking for HIM?
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