Adventures through the Holy Bible - Week of April 3

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God Knows…When I Feel All Alone – Part 1

A baby is a marvel; a unique blending of its parents; a miracle that science cannot fully explain. The Bible centers around one special Baby that was born on our planet. Cradled at the beginning of the New Testament is the story of a baby named Jesus.

This baby was part of a promise God had made to Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. Someday, someone in their family line would give birth to a baby who would break the power of Satan. This baby would grow up to prove that our world is not destined for ruin. The human race did not need to feel alone or abandoned by God, because they had the promise of this baby. The promise was passed on from century to century, until one dark night the promise turned into reality! The King of heaven was born as a little bundle of humanity. Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Mary.

News from Heaven

Mary was a sweet young woman who lived in Nazareth. She planned to marry a man named Joseph. One day an angel brought her some surprising news. “The Lord is with you,” he said. “God is going to give you a very special baby. Your child will be the Son of God. You will name Him Jesus.” Jesus means Savior. God’s Son was to be born to Mary!

When Mary recovered from her shock, she believed the angel’s message. It seemed incredible, but angel reminded her that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). The angel also appeared to Joseph and told him not to worry. He could marry Mary without bothering his conscience because her baby was the Savior sent from heaven.

Rome ruled with an iron fist in those days, and the people of many lands were being taxed by Caesar Augustus. Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem—about 70 miles (110 km)—to pay taxes in the city of their ancestors. Going back 28 generations on Joseph’s family tree we find David, the shepherd boy of Bethlehem. Mary was also related to David.

When they arrived in Bethlehem after their tiring trip, Mary and Joseph could find no room at the inn. After searching, they at last found a place to stay in a building where animals were kept—a barn or stable. Maybe there was some straw for a bed. For sure there was a manger, used for feeding hay and grain to the animals.

That night Mary’s precious baby was born. The promised Savior of the world came into the world as a poor baby, born in a stable. Mary wrapped Him in pieces of cloth and laid Him in the manger.

Were people watching and waiting to welcome Him? Was He royally received?

Shepherds Cared

In the fields where the shepherd boy David had cared for his sheep, shepherds still watched sheep.

It was night. Stars shone overhead. All was quiet as the shepherds talked softly together about the promised Savior. Suddenly, “an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” The angel told them where they would find the baby. Then the joy and glory of many angels could no longer be hidden. A whole choir of angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Quickly the shepherds checked the story out. Sure enough, in Bethlehem they found the newborn babe lying in a manger. The shepherds fell to their knees to worship to baby Savior. Those shepherds gave their hearts to little Jesus. Even though He was little, they knew He was their King.

As the shepherds told and retold the story of the visit of the angels, many people marveled at how good God was to send His only Son to this earth, as a Man, to live among men. This was the most wonderful night of all nights in the world. God had kept His great promise. He had sent His own Son down to the earth!

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