The birth of the Christ was a mindboggling idea not just for Mary his mother but to all who would encounter this child king. It had not been easy for Mary to fathom the message that the angel Gabriel brought to her (Luke 1:26-37). Nonetheless, she graciously accepted her new role and took the position of a slave in the hand of her master. ‘And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
In the Gospel according to Matthew, King Herod could not bear the thought of another king within the kingdom. In order to ensure that this doesn’t happen, he ordered the killing of all boys below two years of age Matthew 2:16-18.
This was the season for the census and the Roman government required all Jews to go to their home towns to be counted (Luke 2:1-5). There were huge crowds everywhere and in such a situation, the Messiah was born in a manger, and was wrapped in milking cloths because his parents didn’t have anything else (Luke 2:6-7).
There were shepherds watching their flocks by night and were alerted by angels about the new born king. They stopped what they were doing in the fields and went to seek the Messiah, the Saviour of the world (Luke 2:15-17).
Three wise men from the East saw and followed his star. They went to Herod to inquire where the new king had been born so that they would worship him (Matthew 2:1-2). Being carnal men, they had gone to King Herod to report having sited a special star foretelling the birth of a king. Herod then tried to distract their pursuit but the angel of the Lord led them out of Bethlehem onto a different route (Matthew 2:10-12).
At the appropriate time, Joseph and Mary presented their child in the Temple as was the custom. There they met two devout elderly people, Anna and Simeon who at the revelation by the Spirit of God had waited till they saw the Messiah of God. They beheld him and spoke of him to those present (Luke 2:22-38).
When Jesus begun his ministry, he called a band of twelve men to follow him. For three years they held front row seats in the lessons, beheld miracles and served the masses as Christ did. They were at the Cross when he was crucified and it was to the eleven that he left the next phase of his ministry, that is, to take it ‘from Jerusalem, Judea and the end of the world’ (Acts 1:8).
Before Christ went to be with the Father, he prayed for his disciples and for those who would hear the Gospel message through them (John 17). As the church stands today, each believer is a recipient of the grace of God because Jesus Christ has prayed for him/her. The call to ‘follow me’ still rings true and passionate as it did the very first time when Christ called the twelve. Are you willing to make room for the Christ in your heart?
As with the characters listed above, there are those who have made room for the Christ in their hearts today, and others are still yet to make that critical decision. The reasons why humanity today does not make room for the Messiah still remain largely the same as with the characters listed above.
Both Pharaoh and Herod couldn’t fathom the thought of another king sitting on the throne but themselves. Consequently, they were willing to go to whatever length it took, even killing innocent children. They made no room for the Christ.
The wisemen were astrologers. They only followed a star signifying the birth of a king. It could have been any king. They were not believers and so they followed human wisdom in their pursuit. Once they had their bidding, they left.
Those who make room for him experience a change in their own lives.
The shepherds witnessed God’s glory in the grand announcement concerning the birth of the Messiah. They rushed to Bethlehem at the said manger, they confirmed what the angel had said. They marveled at the sight of the new born king.
Simeon had been awaiting the consolation of Jerusalem and his heart had been expectant. On that day as the baby was presented to the Temple, he took him in his arms and thanked God for allowing him to see the Messiah. His delight was to see the salvation of the Lord, the light to the Gentile world and the glory of Israel.
The disciples left their all to follow Christ. Apart from Judas, the eleven became partakers of great lessons and miracles. Though their hearts may have failed from time to time, Christ restored them and allowed them to continue with his mission to the world. Through their work and that of the apostle Paul, the Gospel was preached to the utmost parts of the world.
Today, as with those days, we have two choices, that is to make room for the Messiah or to turn away from him. Making room for the Messiah will mean sharing in his suffering and beholding his glory today and in eternity. Turning away from the Messiah will mean suffering God’s wrath today and in eternity (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
As we celebrate the birth of the Christ during this Christmas may we remember to make room for him, first in our hearts and then in our families and communities.
‘You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
(Hebrews 3:13-15, NLT)
