Today while walking outside on the street the music was blaring loudly, “Go tell on the mountain over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born.” A song by John W. Work, Jr.
Which reminded me that earlier I was thinking about what the Apostle John said when he saw Jesus, “behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” Lambs are in mangers I thought. So Jesus being born in manger is fitting. There are also donkeys in mangers that carry loads, humans cannot. They are beasts of burdens. So also Jesus bore and continues to bear loads for us, we cannot bear alone. My mind went on. Probable an ox in some manger too, they are stronger than us and also do work we cannot, so does Jesus. Joseph was there, and he received a perfect blessing without any works. He just had to hear, change his plans and receive. Mary was a vessel of the Lord and so is the church; each person is also a vessel of the Lord in a way. The shepherds were just workers yet they heard the gospel before others. In fact, they got to hear Holy angels singing. It pays to be working and out of the city and crowds.
The Wise men went to the head of government but didn’t find Jesus there. In fact, the government was even aware that a possible royal Heir was born. But it did not take them long to try and wipe out the competition. The Wise men found the “child” Jesus at home with his mother. Jesus taught, “How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” Well, that got me to thinking that the Wiseman showed up a few years later not in the winter because Joseph and Mary and the child Jesus fled soon after that. Wouldn’t it have been wise for God to send the wise men later as he suggests we pray for? Besides the treasures that the Wise men gave would have been enough to flee and start a new life away from family, friends, and land. That would have been God’s perfect timing just when you need it.
Later, I was looking through “The History of the Vikings,” by Gwyn Jones. I read a little about the Viking religion. There was a picture of some Norse gods that looked a lot like Santa Claus and an elf. Guess I’ll stick with the manger scene; the symbols there reminded me of what Jesus did and does.
Holy Bible NKJV
Blue Letter Bible. “Gospel of Matthew 24 – (KJV – King James Version).” Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 17 Dec 2011.
The History of the Vikings,” by Gwyn Jones ISBN 0-19-285063-6
Go tell it on the Mountian by John W. Work, Jr http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/gotitotm.htm