A Strange King

Luke 2:10-12 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid. I have some very good news for you - news that will make everyone happy. Today your Saviour was born in David's town. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box."

If you were God, and you were planning the entry of your Son into this world, I have a strong suspicion that you wouldn’t have gone with the whole baby in a manger out the back of Bethlehem thing.

Years ago, when I was in the Army, Queen Elizabeth visited Australia and, as young officer cadets from the Royal Military College, we formed an honour guard that lined the streets as she drove past. And the following day, we held a parade in her honour. We practiced our drill for weeks so that the parade would be absolutely perfect. Our boots were spit-polished, every item of our uniform was absolutely immaculate, as Her Majesty walked past and inspected the troops.

There was pomp and ceremony. And so there should be too. After all, it was for the Queen.

That’s why this whole Christmas thing is so weird. The Son of God, the King of Kings comes into this world. Now, you’d expect some pomp and ceremony, wouldn’t you? You’d expect Him to be born into a castle and waited on hand and foot!? I’m sure He probably would have been, had you or I been God!

But instead, He slips quietly into the world in a grubby, draughty little stable. They wrap Him in rags and put Him in an animal feed trough, a manger. No pomp or ceremony. Just a bog, ordinary, everyday place. Kind of like … where you and I live. And that, that’s good news. Very good news.

Luke 2:10-12 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you – news that will make everyone happy. Today your Saviour was born in David’s town. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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