Why a Baby?

Luke 2:1-14 (TNIV)

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Why a Baby?Why indeed?  It's certainly not what one would have expected - at least before we knew the story.  But the story changes everything.  God is not like what we would have expected, sometimes not even like what we still expect too much of the time.  What was God doing?  What is God doing?  How do you feel about being a part of this story?  It was described by Isaiah, it was lived by Jesus.  Have you forgotten who God is, or who we are?  The story reminds us.  It reminds us, if we will let it.  Are we listening?

The scripture to the right recounts the story, reminding us of the way in which God entered into our experience in a new and unique way.  We are still responding to and living out the implications of what happened there.

If you would like to listen again (or perhaps for the first time) to Pastor Jon's reflections on this story and what it communicates to us, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.