Christmas Eve!

For Sunday, December 24, 2023:

Luke 2:7 Phillips: “So it happened that it was while they were there in Bethlehem that Mary came to the end of her time. She gave birth to her first child, a son. And as there was no place for them inside the inn, she wrapped him up and laid him in a manger.”

We’re on our way to Bethlehem, the city of David. It seems like everyone is going to Bethlehem, since Caesar Augustus required that everyone register for his census in their hometown, and Joseph was a descendant of David. Traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem was an arduous 70 mile journey as the crow flies, but more like 90 miles after winding through mountains and avoiding parts of Samaria. Thankfully, tradition shows Mary riding a donkey!

While in Bethlehem, it became time for Mary to deliver her baby, but every hotel was flashing “No Vacancy” signs. The couple took refuge in a stable amongst the livestock. Since a stable has nothing to accommodate a new baby, Mary swaddled the newborn and placed him in a feed trough, a manger.

The couple named their baby “Jesus” as the angel Gabriel had directed. “Jesus” is the Greek form of Joshua, which means ”the Lord saves.” Others called him “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.” Those names define Jesus’ mission statement in coming to earth. In time he would take the sins of the world upon himself, leaving believers sinless and pure, prepared to spend eternity with our father in heaven. Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer!

So now we take a day to celebrate God’s goodness, God’s rescue of mankind. God’s desire is that none would perish, and Jesus is the one to open the door of forgiveness for all believers! Thank you, Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship