The Dark Side of Christmas - Pt 4

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV). Our small church held the annual Children’s Christmas Program Sunday night. We had all of the necessary characters (and a few extra). I was one of the cows; our county Sheriff, Bucky Rowland, and the Chief Deputy, Ray Jeter, were a donkey and camel respectively. We sang carols and read the Christmas story. We took our annual Lottie Moon Offering for foreign missions and had a fellowship afterward. One of members said, “Now I know Christmas has begun.” It was great fun. Other churches, larger than ours, may have had more people participate and a much more elaborate set, but I doubt any would have had more fun. Further, I doubt that the message was any clearer. We saw a young couple accept Christ as Savior and several others whose heart were touched with this incredible message of redemption. It was a great night! However, that first Christmas night saw so many “dark sides.” It was a very costly gift that God gave to the world that night. It cost Him and those who were involved much. That’s where we continue our series today. Joseph is headed to Bethlehem with Mary, but they are not married though pregnant. This was scandalous at the least. The scandal continued as they made their journey. In the ancient world, an unmarried man and woman were never to be alone together, not even for a moment. Joseph and Mary spent at least seven days together, traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, engaged but not married. Mary did not have to go to Bethlehem for the census. Ancient censuses were either for military purposes or for taxation, never for just counting people. Neither reason applied to Mary. Near the time for her delivery of her first child, imagine her walking (or riding on a donkey) for nearly a hundred miles, up and down the dusty roads from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We must ask why Mary wasn’t at home, perhaps with her parents? One real possibility is that Mary’s parents had rejected her and her story. Only Joseph believed Mary, and God had charged him with protecting her. It was all the fulfillment of the prophecy of God (cf. Micah 5:2). Their obedience and faith is an inspiring act. It also assures us that God can and does use the pain in our lives to fulfill his purposes. Christmas assures us of that. Trust Him in your life too.