By Jade Meinzer
A barn is not the place where you would want to be born. Sure, we calve out a pile of cows every year through ours, but baby calves are a far cry from an innocent baby. Feed bunks aren’t supposed to be used for a crib either, sometimes they have splinters, are covered in the post digestion feed that once filled them, and quite frankly are not intended to be used to lay a newborn child in. This was just the humble beginning of the greatest birthday story ever told though. A humble entry for the King who was born of a virgin and would later be beaten, mocked and eventually crucified to save you and me.
Sore afraid, that is how the shepherds were described when the Angel of The Lord appeared to them as they were tending their flocks by night. Can you imagine being so terrified that your body ached? These shepherds were some of the first people to learn of the birth of Christ. I know nowadays most people announce a birth with a cute post of a going home outfit on social media, or there is a little write-up in the local paper by the proud parents or grandparents. How awesome is it that the birth of this King was announced by an army of angels! Not only was an army of angels present, but a star in the sky led three Maji across a continent on a two-year journey just so that they could present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
This King that was born struck fear into the ruler at the time. After hearing of the wise men coming to bring gifts to the newborn king, he sent out a decree to kill every child under two years old in the land to protect his thrown. Thankfully our king was spared as he was with his earthly parents in Egypt during this time. As our young king grew, he began teaching others. He was just twelve years old when he was teaching people many years his senior in the temple.
His ministry would grow; he would gather disciples to help him in his journeys and with his teaching. Fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots all made up his disciples. Men from all walks of life, all with different personalities came together and followed this king. Our King was a worker of miracles, he healed the blind, cured incurable diseases, and even raised the dead from the grave! All these signs and wonders only infuriated the religious and political leaders of the time and they would eventually trade the life of this innocent man, for the life of a known criminal. He was hung on a cross for no crime at all, but his death served as the sacrifice for all our sins. His disciples hid in fear for a few days, but when the resurrected king stood before them, they were filled with unspeakable joy!
The name of this King is Jesus. A man born of a virgin in a barn with a feed bunk for his bed. He came from humble beginnings, lived a sinless life and bore the sins of the world on a cross so that we can have hope eternally. This year has strengthened my faith and the faith of my family like never before. We’ve faced trial after trial, one hardship after another, but we trust that God above has a greater plan for our lives. This Christmas I invite you to celebrate the birth of Christ. Take in a Christmas Eve service at your local church and find out how a feed bunk baby came to save the world. That’s all for this time, keep tabs on your side of the barbed wire and God bless! Luke 2:10