Warriors Arise: December 24, 2021
Luke 2:6-7 (NKJV) So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
If you have been around a woman who is pregnant in her final weeks, you may have heard her say, "I am ready for this baby to come." I can't even imagine Mary riding on a donkey while she was 9 months pregnant. However, she couldn't walk, because what are we told to do in order to get the baby coming? We are told to walk. When I was in labor with my first child, my water broke when I got into the car to go home for lunch. My husband was unavailable, because we didn't have a cell phone back then. He would meet me at home in about 20 minutes. So, I went home and made a sandwich. He came in the door and I gave him his lunch and said, "You need to grab our bags, we are heading to the hospital." He sprung into action in a frantic kind of way. It was so adorable! "What?! Really? Right now? How do you know?" I told him my water broke. It was more like a tiny tear. We found out later her head stopped the flow of water. Because it wasn't gushing, I wasn't in a hurry. I would find out with child number two what it meant to really have your water break.
He stopped eating and ran to the room to get our bags then stood by the door. "What are you doing?"
I responded, "I am going to finish my sandwich, because they are not going to feed me. I probably won't get anything to eat until tomorrow." I finished eating, washed my plate and put it in the dishwasher.
We got the hospital. They verified may water broke and then we waited! Later that afternoon a friend of mine came. She told me we could go for a walk and maybe speed things up. We walked laps around the hospital. She kept asking me if I thought I needed to sit down. To which I responded, "No, I feel great. Let's keep going so this baby knows it is time to come." LOL! New Mom, silliness! I didn't get the signal that I was tiring out my friend! I would rather walk than be stuck in the hospital room with nothing happening! Her husband had taken mine out to eat. I was not happy that they said I couldn't eat anything until I had the baby. So, I was ready to get the show on the road.
I still cannot imagine Mary walking 10 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem nor can I imagine her riding a donkey on uneven ground with a mature baby in her womb. Balance can be tricky the last few weeks. Wobbling on top of a donkey does not seem safe at all. It is a wonder her water didn't break! And oh, the swelling in her ankles and legs.
Whether people did not have room or they just didn't want to be considered "unclean" for 14 days. Joseph and Mary were told there was no room. Sometimes people don't want to let you in, because they don't want the "unclean" that comes with you. However, on the other side of the birth is a baby. This baby is something beautiful, someone special, hidden treasure for those who are kingly to seek out.
Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Some scholars believe that the wisemen did not find Jesus until He was already 2 years old. Which makes it even a greater wonder in how they found Him. He would have looked like every other little 2 year old boy. His parents would have blended in with the community. Who would have remembered Joseph and Mary coming into Bethlehem two years earlier ready to be delivered? Would the shepherds have forgotten? Maybe the wisemen camped outside of Bethlehem and their servants talked with the shepherds. I wonder if they heard the story of the shepherds from that night two years earlier?
The shepherds found out from the angel about Jesus the night He was born. They had a sign, a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Luke 2:8-12 (NKJV) Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
The shepherds didn't have to search long, but the wisemen searched possibly for two years. These wisemen were like kings because they searched the matter out. They searched the concealed matter of God. Who is the glory of God? Jesus, the Savior of the world.
How long will you search for Jesus? Just because you are saved doesn't mean you have searched for Him, embraced all He has to offer, or encountered the Holy One. So many people passed by Jesus. They knew His name. They knew His parents. They knew when He was born and where but they didn't know JESUS! They didn't know Him as the Savior of the world, as Emmanuel. Do you? Have you searched Him out? They didn't find Jesus and He was right there in front of them, living, breathing, eating with them, playing with them and taking His first steps.
Father, I do not want to miss Jesus. He is Emmanuel. He is the Savior of the world. He is living among us. He hears my prayers and speaks wisdom to me. He cheers me on and calls me to go further. He strengthens me and demonstrates His love. Just as Jesus saw what You did Father and then did it; I want to see what Jesus is doing and do it. Open my eyes to see Jesus. I want a tangible relationship with my Lord, my King, my Savior, my Messiah. Open my mind to comprehend His presence, my eyes to see Him at work and my heart to follow His heartbeat for the people in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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