Walking With Christ

10 days until Christmas.

Luke 2:4-5 (4)And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (5)to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.(ESV)

The birth of Jesus had been promised and prophesied in several ways in the old testament. The promises to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, that the messiah would be his blood ancestor and the prophecy in Micah 5:2 about the place of His birth, paint a very distinct picture about the family line and birth place of the coming messiah. Bethlehem is the home town of Jesse who was the father of David. Having the messiah be born in the same place as David remembers the promise to David about establishing the throne of his offspring forever.

Here’s something that people need to understand about the relationship between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a Jebusite city in the time before David. The city was called Jebus until David conquered it and renamed it to Jerusalem. Much like Jericho, Jebus was considered to be impenetrable until David captured it. David’s humble beginnings as a shepherd boy for his father did not prevent him from accomplishing what was once thought to be impossible. He captured the crown jewel of the Jebusite people and made it the capital of his kingdom.

Before David, the people of Israel were still largely nomadic. King Saul most likely had his royal residence in the city of Gibeah where 1 Samuel 10:26 said he made his home. The issue with calling Gibeah the capital city is that the rule of Saul was marked by so many military campaigns that he was gone more than he was home. He ruled from where he was at the time and that changed quite regularly. Gibeah was where Saul lived when he was anointed as king. Shortly after becoming king Saul began his conquests. It wasn’t until David’s conquest of Jebus that a permanent capital city was established for the people of Israel. With the addition of Solomon’s temple in the place where David purchased the threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite, Jerusalem was firmly established as the de facto royal city and capital of Israel. It was David who transitioned the people of Israel from a largely nomadic tribal society where each of the twelve tribes had their own ruler to a settled people under a single king. The finishing of Solomon’s temple also saw the final fulfillment of the prophecy in 1 Samuel 7 where Nathan prophesied that “he shall build a house in my name” that was a messianic precursor. Solomon built the first permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant. This established the city of Jerusalem not only as the center of society and political power, but also as the spiritual hub for the nation. The Ark of the Covenant was the physical proof of the promises made to Moses. This city became the root of the identity for the people of Israel.

Under the house of David, though, this kingdom wouldn’t last. Shortly after the death of Solomon, the kingdom split. What humans build does not last. What humans make humans can destroy. The city of Jerusalem was a beacon of hope for the people of Israel. It had become the seat of all power for the nation. Yet, it was destroyed. For nearly four hundred years, the city stood before being destroyed in 586 BC. Even after the destruction of Jerusalem, the city was always viewed as the center of Israeli society. Even during captivity, the people spoke of going home to Jerusalem, the city that David built.

What seems to have gotten lost in the stories is that David didn’t begin in Jerusalem. David had far more humble origins. It’s easy to see why people assumed that the messiah would come to Jerusalem. It was the most important city to the people of Israel which meant that it had to be important to God, right? Some people believed that the prophecies about the coming salvation would be God sending another David to conquer the known world and save the people of Israel from their earthly oppressors. This is a common human perception flaw. We often can’t see beyond the most pressing problem we have right now. We hear that help is coming and we assume that the help will be related to whatever we are going through at the time.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem. Jesus was born in a manger, not a palace. Jesus was born to an average girl, not a queen. Jesus is God, very God, but lived the same life as his family. He ate the same food. He wore the same clothes. His arrival was almost a non-event in that nobody would have even known He had arrived had it not been for people being told that He had arrived. A new star in the sky might have drawn some attention if nobody had been told what it meant. The discussion around that new star would have quickly faded into obscurity. I would say that if it weren’t for John the Baptist ranting constantly about the coming messiah people might have completely forgotten that He had arrived. Still, most people who saw Jesus before His ministry surely knew something was different, but none would have said that He was the messiah. His ministry would truly fulfill the promises to David about establishing his throne forever. Yes, the city was sacked and the temple destroyed. Yes, the earthly kingdom was overthrown. How Jesus entered into this world and the life He lived shows how God fulfills promises in some of the most unexpected ways.

That is the face of humility. God lived among us, as one of us, and nobody knew it was Him. He certainly wasn’t hiding. The prophecies about His coming, where, and how, painted a fairly clear picture of who to look for. This humility is central to the mission that Jesus had here on earth. His humility was required for Him to become a servant for all of mankind. His ultimate act of service, paying for all of our sins as the sacrifice on the cross, was only possible because He was humble enough to submit Himself to the will of the Father and serve without reservation.

The real significance of the story behind the birth of Christ is that it shows the very nature of both that Father and the Son. The Father, who has complete control over every aspect of our lives while still respecting our free will, planned for and orchestrated the events leading up to the birth of His Son. The Son, who would lead a perfect and sinless life so remain pure for the sacrifice that was required for us all to ever have any hope of salvation, was humble enough to wash the feet of His disciples at a time when the idea of a servant leader was simply preposterous. He performed miracles for the glory of the Father and the coming kingdom. He always pointed directly to the Father with everything He did or said.

John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.(ESV)

With the coming of Christ, we celebrate humility. We celebrate submission to the will of the Father. We celebrate the faith of the mustard seed that moved the mountain. We celebrate humble beginnings that lead to great victories for the kingdom of God and the body of Christ. We celebrate selfless gifts given out of pure love. Join me as we lift up praises to the one who keeps promises, plans our steps, lights our path, and counts every tear.

Father,
It’s hard to find the words that are fitting to praise You sometimes. We stand in awe of all that You do knowing that we can’t fully understand or see it. You’ve revealed great mysteries to us through the birth and life of Your Son. You’ve answered so many questions that created so many more questions. It’s humbling to walk in the light You sent into the world. We know that we could never be worthy to enter heaven of our own accord. Your love for us is what built the bridge for us to return to You. We know that there is nothing in this life that is an afterthought to You. We also know that there is no end to the mysteries for us to unfold. Help us to grow closer to You through Your word, Father. Help us to grow firmly in our faith. Help us to remember the peace that comes when we hear Your voice whispering quietly through the raging storms of life. Jesus came to this earth with the most humble of beginnings and lived a life that was accessible to all. He didn’t live as a king even though He is the King of kings. Let us not think of just ourselves this season as we come together to celebrate the works You’ve done. Let us remember Your heart to serve as we serve each other this season. Let us forget our selfish ambitions and truly see Your will. As follower’s of Christ, that makes us leaders of men. Let us be bold yet humble in our walks. Let us show the love You have for us in everything we do.

In Jesus name we pray, amen.