"With No Malice"©2012
A General Interest Opinion Column by an opinionated person.
Vic Topmiller Jr.
12/0612(52)
Christmas
"The hour in which the Prince of Peace was born".
William Cullum Bryant.
In Those As These
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria." Luke 2;1-2 NIV
"And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went to his own town in Nazareth to Judea, to the town of Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn." Luke 3: 3-7.
So Joseph and his wife-to-be made this journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, maybe as much as one hundred miles or more, Mary on a donkey, Joseph in the lead. Neat picture, wouldn't you agree? Visualize for a moment. Bethlehem sits close to the 31°45' N. and we sit close to 32°45' N. then you can pretty much assume that they and we have similar climates. Joseph in sandals with dusty, dirty feet thinking of his next drink of water. Mary sitting sideways on the back of a little Jerusalem donkey, fawn in color with a dark colored cross running down his back and across his shoulders. Mary would be all wrapped up to protect herself from the dust, the sun, the cool and to hide her protruding belly. How long would it take to make this journey? Three days – four days – maybe five or six? Would they camp out at night? Would they stay at an inn? Were they traveling with a caravan?
So many people can accept a lot about the birth of Jesus, but not the virgin birth. But, if not a virgin birth, then why a birth at all? It would have meant nothing. Only the Son of God could have the power to save folks from their sins. But on the other side, being betrothed was no small thing. Not like engaged, where giving the ring back concluded the episode. No, more actually like being married but with no intercourse (sexual). If the female partner were unfaithful during this period she would most likely be stoned to death. Whatever your thinking, I don't think so. The whole thing seems incredible. If you don't believe in miracles, then, of course, you wouldn't believe in the virgin birth of little Jesus. But would you still believe in his saving power?
How much discomfort did the jerk, Ruler of Rome, cause the people living in the conquered provinces? Did he care? Of course not-no one who levies taxes on another without the consent and input of the person for the common good of the folks, could care the least how much inconvenience he has caused them. So each person was required to register and probably pay a poll tax in the town of his family.
And so Joseph being in the line of David was required to register in Bethlehem, "The City of David."
And so Mary, also from the line of David, from the age of twelve was also required to pay the poll tax.
"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him,-- and from that day the spirit of the Lord came upon David in power." 1 Sam 16:13.
So David was anointed King in Bethlehem.
Sorry Mary, no exceptions, your condition notwithstanding.
But, it's not all bad. It's a lesson in how the God of the Universe works. No limits. No conditions. God chose to fulfill his promise by causing a heathen king in a faraway heathen country to cause Joseph and Mary, and by now you could say the baby, to pack up for the trip of all trips to a faraway town so that the great event could take place at the point in prophecy.
"But you, Bethlehem- - though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2
And so they got there, only to find that there was nowhere to stay the day or the night-the inn was already full. Probably of out-of-towners coming to register in the City of David. So they stayed in the stable. A roof over their heads. Maybe they had already been sleeping along the road on the long trip and a stable wasn't all that bad. But laid him in a manger? The Savior of the World? Actually, there may have been things taking place around the stable that are not included in the Bible account. Don't you know that the girls had that manger fixed like a bed for a King. I bet a midwife was summoned and folks all around were cheering for Mary's good success not aware of the magnitude of the event. And especially not being aware that a hand reaching down had already ordained a perfect conclusion.
"Oh how many observe Christ's birthday, how few his precepts." Benjamin Franklin.
That's My Opinion.
"The Real Meaning of Christmas"
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In Those As These Part 2
- Category: With No Malice
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