by Sharon O | Dec 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
In Luke chapter two verse twenty one we find another scene for Mary and Joseph and their little baby.
[Eight days later when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child;
so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord, so they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord, “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”]
So much is happening for Mary and Joseph at this time.
They traveled so far and then they delivered a precious little baby.
She had to have recovery of some kind, and then they journeyed again to dedicate their son.
It was a precious time for them, but also very significant and also very necessary to follow the laws.
Even though this was a ‘chosen baby’, they still had to do what was required of them.
I am not sure how far they had to travel, but it couldn’t be an easy path since she had just delivered.
Anyone who has gone through that process, understands the first week or two of healing and discomfort.
Again I wonder, he could not have placed her on donkey to travel, and to walk could have been a hardship for her.
They did what was required. The baby was named and the rules were followed.
Jesus was presented in the temple, and it would be the beginning of the life changing experiences many would share in, over and over, starting in the temple.
Mary’s baby was born, dedicated and named. His was named Jesus, just as the angel told them.
by Sharon O | Dec 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
In the book of Luke chapter two verse eight we find a new scene to the story.
[That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flock of sheep.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.
They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign; you will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying.
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to the heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!
Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds story were astonished but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.
It was just as the angel had told them.]
When reading this the first thing we need to remember is the job of a shepherd.
They were social outcasts not really liked by most in the city.
They were fearless, they had to be so they could protect their sheep from any animal who may come to harm them while in the fields.
They were rough and tough and most likely not well kept as they were out in the fields most of the time.
They were not credible witnesses and not someone to be invited in ones home.
So we find these guys. These out of character guys, to be chosen to be a part of the story of Jesus.
Isn’t that amazing that God would show up and allow them to be given this privilege and even honor.
Can you even imagine these men who knew the night sky as they looked at every night.
These men who knew when something was different with the moon or stars, all of a sudden see radiance coming towards them.
It says they were terrified. We probably would be too, the brilliance and the glory was something no one had ever seen and it was noted that the angel told them not to be afraid.
The skies opened up and all of heaven sang. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
It would be breathtaking, startling, maybe even a bit emotional, for these rough and tough men.
Then it tells us they hurried to see the baby. That means they left their flock unprotected.
That is something no shepherd would ever do, but it was God who challenged them.
Can you imagine them standing or even kneeling near the tiny little baby.
Then they told others and they were believed. Making them credible witnesses.
Isn’t it like God to take an ordinary person, and change them into a ‘voice’ that others will listen to?
wow… it was just as the angel had told them. A baby was born.
by Sharon O | Dec 10, 2015 | Uncategorized
The next thing we read about is Mary and Joseph entering into the city of Bethlehem.
Remember they are tired, needing rest, a warm bath and food.
The census is going on and there are a lot of people there and much chaos.
Many places to stay were full already, and I would imagine Joseph had a sense of urgency, as he searched for a resting place for Mary.
In Luke chapter one verse six it says:
[While they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.]
We are not told a lot about how that took place or whether she had help.
Joseph wouldn’t be too much help as she labored in the delivery process.
There could have been a midwife there close by or even an older ‘lady’ who could help.
One could imagine the isolation and sadness Mary would feel delivering her baby alone.
Anyone who has ever had a baby knows how hard it is, and how much pain it involves.
Even though He was a chosen child, and she was chosen to have him, that doesn’t mean she would have no labor pains or a hard extreme delivery.
Remember she was young and this was her first baby.
There was no doctor as far as we know, and only Joseph to help.
We are not really sure where they were when she delivered, some say it could have been a barn like the ones we
see in the nativities showing Mary laying on straw and or sitting with the baby in a manger.
We don’t know. Some opinions say it could have been in a cave on the side of a hill behind the inn.
What we do know, is a baby was born and He would change the world forever. In verse seven:
[She gave birth to her fist child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger,
because there was no lodging available to them.]
I have often wondered if she had seen this before and knew what to do, and I also wondered where the strips of cloth would come from.
Did Joseph take part of his ‘robe’ and tear it with his hands making strips for the baby?
Were they that prepared when they traveled the road to Bethlehem for her delivery?
They had to make wrappings of blankets, and maybe even using some of what was on the donkey for ‘warmth’.
Many things within this story we are not told.
She did not have a pretty little bassinet with soft cuddly onesies for him.
She had strips of cloth, torn and ragged, to wrap her baby in as she swaddled her tiny little boy.
The world was watching and waiting, for a Messiah and soon they would be able to meet him.
In verse twelve it says:
[You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.]
A baby was born. Mary’s baby…just as the angel had told her.
[Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!]
by Sharon O | Dec 9, 2015 | Uncategorized
In Luke chapter two we find Mary and Joseph needing to leave together.
[verse one: At the time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendent of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.
He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
He took with him, Mary his fiancée, who is now obviously pregnant.]
So we now understand why Joseph and Mary traveled together, when we would say it wasn’t a safe time for her to travel. It was mandated that he had to go, no matter what the reason.
I cannot imagine Mary at a later stage of pregnancy, traveling on a donkey 120 kilometers or the distance of eighty miles.
They were walking or riding. Struggling and agonizing every step towards the city.
We are not told if she went with a good spirit or if there was a bit of grumbling.
I know I would be grumbling a lot.
Did she have him rub her sore feet at night as they rested between walks?
Did she have a comfortable blanket or pillow to sleep with, while waiting for the next morning?
I cannot imagine being obviously pregnant and trying to sleep on the ground.
It could not have been easy for her, it could have taken them a few weeks to go a ‘steady pace.’
One can only imagine the long and hard road, and Mary’s discomfort and perhaps even a lack of patience.
Anyone would understand how hard and how difficult that had to have been.
The smell of donkey hair and dirt and dust had to have been all over them.
I wonder if they had enough water or food as they journeyed along this path.
It was a hard and exhausting journey for both of them, and as they walked together
did they talk much about what it would be like to see and have this little baby?
So much happening in such a short time.
I would imagine because of the census, there were many others doing the same kind of journey.
Only this journey Joseph and Mary walked, would be like no other one in history.
Soon a baby would be born, and life as they knew it would change forever.
by Sharon O | Dec 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
When Zechariah was told about Elizabeth’s baby, his response was one of question.
How can I be sure? which was a sign of unbelief. Which got him in trouble with the angel.
When Mary was told of her baby to be, her response was one of curiosity.
How can this be? Which moved her into a more accepting position and future.
When we see her spending time with Elizabeth, and noticing the reaction of one who has loved her for many years. We can see how Mary is moving into the place within her heart of receiving all that God was going to do, even if she didn’t fully understand it.
Elizabeth told her in Luke chapter one verse forty five:
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
verse forty six begins with Mary’s response:
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
ESV)
verse 56
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then went back to her home.
Mary’s song of praise was from a knowing…a knowing in her heart, that she was chosen.
Elizabeth was a mentor and encourager and said, “Mary, you are blessed.”
How precious it is to have someone believe in you even when you are unsure.
Perhaps that is why Mary went to see Elizabeth.
To find and receive words of affirmation and hope.
It is a special ‘relationship’ of sharing in miracles and believing in the promise of God.
They both will have a sons, and their lives will bring purpose and meaning to everyone.
What a glorious moment for both of them. Deep friendships sharing in the miraculous.
