Long time ago in Bethlehem ...

by Gwen Herat

In many parts of the world, Christmas has become a great boost for local economies and in Western lands, it is now largely secular and commercial and shopping malls resonate with carols. This could not be the spirit a true Christian feels.

Firstly, we have to bear in mind why Jesus Christ came into the world. It is to sacrifice His precious life to redeem our sins. Celebration is good, but that should not be the prime reason. It is the spirituality of the event that matters to the Christians.

The birth of Jesus Christ in the manger

Around the world, two billion people celebrate Christmas on December 25, while at least 200 million celebrate it on January 7, but there are also millions who do not celebrate Christmas. Perhaps they may belong to other faiths. Some may also be atheists, agnostics, free thinkers, seculars and humanists.

Now that we are in Advent, let us look at what Luke says in his Gospel about the birth of Jesus Christ. God sent the Angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. The Angel said, “Peace be with you. The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you”.

Mary was deeply troubled by the Angel’s message and she wondered what his words meant. The Angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the most high God. The Lord God will make him a King as His ancestor David was, and he will be the King of all the descendants of Jacob for ever; His kingdom will never end”.

At that time, a census was taken throughout the Roman Empire that took Joseph from the town of Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of King David. He went to register with Mary who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger. There was no room for them to stay in an inn.

Three wise men who studied the stars at this time of the year came from the East to Jerusalem and inquired about the new-born baby who was to be the King of Jews. They said that they saw His star when it came up in the East and have come to worship Him. When King Herod heard about this, he was disturbed and so were many in Jerusalem. Herod summoned all the teachers of the Law and chief priests and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

“In the town of Judea in Bethlehem, exactly as the Prophet wrote”. He began the search for the child, but by then the three wise men had left, filled with joy and found Mary with Baby Jesus. They knelt down and worshipped Him and presented the gifts they brought; Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, a symbolic gesture to a king who in the future will sacrifice his life to save sinners. Then they returned to their country by another route as God had warned them not to go back to Herod.

The escape and return to Egypt

“Herod would be looking for the child. So take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt and stay there until I tell you to return,” said an Angel of the Lord to Joseph in a dream. Joseph immediately took the child and Mary during the night to Egypt. This was prophetic because “I called my Son out of Egypt”.

In the meantime, Herod had ordered all male children under two years to be killed. All mothers wailed, their sons too had to be sacrificed.

After the death of Herod, again the Angel instructed Joseph to take Mary and Baby Jesus and return to the land of Israel because those who tried to kill the child were dead.

Redeemer of sins

There was a custom that had to be performed and the time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification as the Law of Moses commanded. So, they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the Law of the Lord that every first-born male child is to be dedicated to the Lord. They also offered a sacrifice of a pair of doves as required by this Law.

At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, devout man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon went to the synagogue when the parents brought the child Jesus. Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God.

“Now, Lord you have kept your promise,
And you have let your servant go in peace,
With my own eyes I have seen your salvation
Which you have prepared in the presence of all people.
A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles
And bring glory to your people in Israel.”

Joseph and Mary were amazed at the things Simeon said about the child. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary that the child is chosen by God which many people will speak against, but He is the salvation to many in Israel and the redeemer of sins. “He will grow up and take our sins upon Him, sacrificing His precious life for which He is born now. It will break your heart, but that is the purpose of His birth”. Mary kept all these in her heart.

Then there was a very old prophetess, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years though she was 84 years old. She never left the synagogue; day and night she worshipped God, fasting and praying. That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for Jesus to set Jerusalem free.

And Mary’s Song of Praise

“My heart praises the Lord,
My soul is glad because of God my Saviour
For He has remembered me, His lowly servant
From now on all people will call me blessed
Because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me
His name is Holy.

From one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him

He has stretched out His mighty arm and
Scattered the proud with all their plans.
He has brought kings from their thrones and lifted up the lowly
And has filled the hungry with good things...”