A LONELY VILLAGE NIGHT

It was a piece of the old world, a quaint and obscure little village -- long ago and far away. The nights were still, clear, crisp, fragrant with the months of growing things, of flowers and trees, in profusion. It was just before the latter period of rains.

Facing out into the cool, black darkness, one could hear the village growing quiet for the night. The quiet, faint sounds of the creatures of the field sounded enormously loud as the village began to be at rest. Over the hillside came those normal sounds of the insects, the locusts and the crickets and the bullfrogs on the pond. The baying of the sheep could be clearly discerned, the bray of a mule in some far-off field. The cows lowed with their baritone approval of the world around. A horse whinnied, a dog barked and somewhere far off, in the distance, a rabbit skitters across a grassy meadow into it's hutch, very close by.

Suddenly, there cuts a sharp sound in the still darkness. It sends a shudder up the spine as one wonders what it could be -- what dares to disrupt the still of the night. Was it a screech from an owl or some carrion seeking creature searching for a meal? Perhaps, it is the warning shriek of a night-cat -- a portent to some intruder to come no farther. No, none of these seems right. It is somehow familiar, in a strange, yet, normal way. Perhaps, if it were closer.... As our senses shrink the distance, the strange sentinel sounds again. No, 'twas neither cat, nor bird, nor ghoulish specter, none of these. It was nothing at all -- but the innocent cry of a newborn child. But where?

The only sensations are the scent of freshly cut hay, the smells of cattle and animals of laden, the sounds of horses and mules munching oats, the sheep cropping grass. Then, almost indiscernible -- a coo! How odd that it came from a stable! Peering in, our eyes, filled with amazement, view an incredible and
delicate scene, one totally foreign to these crude surroundings.

A young man sighs his appreciation; a soft, sweet and gentle lullaby, a young mother’s song brings this little one to a peaceful sleep. What strange events! What could be the meaning of this peaceful scene? Who would consent to bring his child into the world in such a rude fashion -- in a barn? A barn! -- Barely more than a cave hewn into the rocky hillside on the edge of town. Who, indeed, would clothe his newborn son in wraps of linen and encouch him in hay and lay him in a crude cow’s manger?

And then, as though to mark this very spot, so other curious wanderers could find this unusual, peaceful scene, a star hangs low, burning intently directly over the stable and the manger-crib. But, why? Who are these people with this strange and quiet serenity? Who is the babe upon the hay, now sleeping in perfect peace? What great importance does he have that all of creation seemingly bows its knee to honor his birth?

Then, I heard the young woman speak his name, softly, YEHSUA (Savior)! Could this be the one the prophets spoke of -- Immanuel -- who would save his people from their sins? Can this really be the Son of God Who has entered humanity in such simple and lowly fashion, to provide a portal of peace, to usher men into the presence of God? What a truly amazing spectacle to the eyes of man! What a wonderful thought for the heart of man! What a tremendous boon to the soul of man, the gift of life, the forgiveness of sin through God’s amazing gift of His only begotten Son!

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, [the] virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7: 14).

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah (9: 6).

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, [an] angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring for a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [YESHUA]: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:19-23).

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons”(Galatians 4: 4-5).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3: 16-18).

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10: 9-10).

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© November 8, 1998
Updated: December 25, 2003
by: Rev. C. David Coyle

What Child Is This?
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