Luke 2:6-7
When you read the Word of God, have you ever noticed how “detail oriented” that God is? Especially when it comes to his son. So this little article will be short, and I'm sure we all know all of this anyway.
Mary and Joseph. They are an interesting pair, don't you think. Why them? Well, since both of their genealogies are recorded in scripture, we see that Matthew records Josephs' line coming down through Solomon. While Luke records Mary's line coming down through Nathan. This is an interesting study within itself, but for now, just notice that through Joseph comes the Royal right to throne of David, while through Mary comes the Legal right to the throne. Both the Royal right and the Legal right culminate in Jesus. Interesting, don't you think.
Then, there's Bethlehem. Why here? Was there something special about this little town? Well the name Bethlehem, means “house of bread”. So the bread of life was born in a town called the house of bread.
The first visitors. Sheep herders. Not clergy. Not denominational leaders. Not T.V. evangelists. Shepherds. The Great Shepherd was first visited by shepherds. Ironic.
The place. A manger. A place where sheep were taken care of. Why here? Actually, Bethlehem was the only place where the sacrificial lambs for temple use were raised. So when John the Baptist proclaimed him as “the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”, he wasn't kidding.
So I guess the little song we all know, was true.
Mary had a little lamb. He died for the whole world.
