Christmas Travellers

Many people will make journeys this Christmas to be with family or friends. Some will travel for, to exotic parts to celebrate Christmas in the sunshine. Others will just be local, popping in to exchange gifts, or savour the Christmas dinner someone else has prepared for them! On that first Christmas, journeys of a different kind were made and lives would never be the same again! An eighty mile journey! That was the approximate distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem over rough terrain. Joseph and Mary could have taken up to a week to make this trip as Mary was nearing the end of her pregnancy. They were going because Caesar had decreed that every man must be taxed in his own city. (1) They were also going because the Bible had foretold that their Child would be born in Bethlehem of Judea. (2) Mary was going to bring into the world, the Child who was the Son of the Highest, (3) Emmanuel God with us, (4) Jesus the Saviour! Angels travelled to Judean fields! Yes angels came from the presence of God to give an audience to shepherds, who were watching over their flocks. God's glory shone on these men and they were sore afraid. (5) Sinful men and women today, have no sense of God's glory and holiness and as a result there is no fear of God before their eyes.(6) However the angel had brought a message of good news and great joy and told them not to be afraid.(7) The message that a Saviour had been born is still good news today, for ''Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners''.(8) The shepherds hurried to the manger. The shepherds travelled with haste the short distance to where the babe lay in the Manger and caused others to wonder as they told about the events that had come to pass. Could it be that we have lost the wonder that God gave His Son not only to be born at Bethlehem but to die for you and me at Calvary?(9) What a journey the Son of God made! He left the splendour of heaven, where all is holy and the Son knew the eternal glory of the Father's presence. What grace that He who was infinitely rich, became poor (10) and was brought up in a humble carpenter's home. He travelled to many towns and villages in Israel, doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil.(11) At thirty three years of age He made a final journey to Jerusalem to be betrayed and crucified. After three days he rose again and after forty days He left this world to ascend up into haven itself, once more to appear in the presence of God.(12) He has been exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour.(13) The Lord Jesus made that journey to provide for you the gift of eternal life.(14) Will you trust Him as your Saviour to forgive your sins, so that you are prepared for the time when you will leave this world forever, for an eternal destination? References: 1. Luke 2.1-5 2. Micah 5.2 3. Luke 1.32 4. Matthew 1.32 5. Luke 2.8-9 6. Romans 3.18 7. Luke 2.10-11 8. 1 Timothy 1.15 9. John 3.16 10. 2 Corinthians 8.9 11. Acts 10.38 12. Hebrews 9.24 13. Acts 5.31 14. Romans 6.23 Ian Steele