Luke 2:1 says, "Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." This required that everyone return to his own place of birth to register.
Imagine this town of Bethlehem, as well as others throughout the land, to be crowded with people returning to their respective birth places for registration. Imagine that outside an inn somewhere in Bethlehem a man, and an expectant woman, a woman who was pledged to be married to him, found rest for a time. As far as anybody knew, this was just another couple who had trekked back to their own home town for the counting.
Apparently, they were not among the earliest to arrive, as it is written that "...there was no room for them in the inn." While they were there, the woman delivered a baby boy, wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Now let's go back a few steps in time.
In recent months, one could say, in the lives of this couple radical changes had occurred. First, in the life of the woman named Mary, an angel of the Lord appeared and said, "Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus" (Luke 1:30).
"How will this be?" Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin"?
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). From a girl betrothed to be married to a girl ordained to bear the Son of God -- Is this not a radical change?
In one moment the man known as Joseph, the carpenter, lived a perfectly simple life; in another moment, his life is drastically turned upsidedown. Imagine this predicament of not having been with Mary, on the one hand, and on the other hand, having Mary tell him that she is with child.
Imagine that the name of the child had been provided by the angel of the Lord before it was even conceived. Furthermore, Mary was told by this same angel that he would be the "...son of the Most High." Of course, at one point, Joseph had decided to rid himself of Mary -- as the Scripture goes -- "...to divorce her quietly" (Matthew 1:19) until an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Joseph then learned in a dream from the angel of the Lord that Mary's child was conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Even though this couple had names and lives before the angels of the Lord came to visit them, they were simple lives. Their lives were quiet. Their lives were normal. Yet, all of a sudden, their names and lives now took on supernatural dimensions, immediately for them, and gradually for the rest of the world. So much was the change that now they had a child coming for which God, the creator of heaven and earth, had assumed responsibility.
Even though they appeared unfazed about this news -- taking such world changing news in stride, that is -- there would be nothing normal for the rest of eternity, not only for them, but for all mankind. Suddenly, whom they had become had been much altered from who they had been. But to everybody else, the boy to be birthed would be just another boy born in Bethlehem.
The truth of the matter is that God gave his "...only begotten son..." at a time which we celebrate as Christmas. God gave his only bgotten son so that "...whosoever beleives in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
1 Corinthians 15:44 reveals to us that "...there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." In verse 45 it goes on to say that "...the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (that is Jesus) was made a quickeningi spirit." Verse 47 says, "...the first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." In 1 Corinthians 15:22 we see that "...in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
Christmas epitomizes new life, first a supernatural life in the conception and birthing of Jesus;. second, another supernatural life in the birthing of Christ in those who receive him. Yes, God once again creates a second Adam as a "quickening spirit" in all who receive Christ. In this light, Christmas is the time of a second birth to occur so as to overcome the first birth. The first Adam was of the earth, the second Adam, Jesus, was the "Lord from heaven." The first of all of us is of the earth. As well, the second of all of us can be from the "Lord of heaven."
For each and everyone who does not know Christ as being any more than a boy of Bethlehem, your natural birth was of the earth and this season you could experience your second birth, should you be so persuaded. On the subject of being persuaded, for a moment, let me take you to a time after Jesus had died. Paul, an apostle of Christ, in this image had been incarcerated for serving Christ. Brought before King Agrippa Paul spoke to the King on behalf of the Lord, pretty much as is happening before your eyes now. Paul asked King Agrippa, "Do you believe in the prophets? I know that you believe."
King Agriippa replied, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become Christian?" As you can see, the King Agrippa did not desire his second birth, and, of course, he did not receive it.
On that note, allow me to take you to the second potential birth in you. It will be the birth to overcome the first. Remember, it is the second birth which comes from heaven and it is the one which is required to cause you to become born again spiritually.
Carol writers of old left their messages of salvation in song. Listen for a moment to some of the words of these carol writers who pointed the way to Christ's birth as being a time for us to be persuaded. From the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" we read these lines:
O Holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in Be born in us today.
Be born in us today...can you hear that? In this writing, the author captures the essence of what must happen within. We are to allow Christ to enter in and be born in us.
In another stanza in that same song the writer restates what must happen.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still The dear Christ enters in
Yes, Jesus must enter in, into our hearts in order that he be transformed from just a boy in Bethlehem to a personal Lord and Saviour.
Now, from the carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" just listen to this:
Joyful all ye nations rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth. The second birth, ladies and gentlemen, is from the Lord of Heaven.
One of the most explanatory lines comes from the carol "Joy to the World!" Listen closely. It reads:
Joy to the world! the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room
"Let every heart prepare Him room," is the key line. Will you open your heart this season to prepare him room to enter in? You know, it is God's revealed will that all be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 says that God wants "...all men and women to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." This truth does not mean that everyone will be saved, but only that God desires the salvation of everyone.
What will you do with the boy of Bethlehem this season? Would you let the boy of Bethlehem be born in your heart today? Would you consider preparing room for him in your heart now? Would you as the inn keeper of your heart find a place for him on the inside of your heart, or will you continue to leave him in the manger outside your heart? Would you agree today to you second birth?
In a second or so we shall close in prayer. If God has so addressed you today, allow yourself to be persuaded. Eternal life is erally a question of the heart and whether or not we will prepare the Boy from BEthlehem a room or whether or not we have prepared him room. As a babe in swaddling clothes on the doorstep of your heart, will some passer-by take him in or will it be you? "Let every heart prepare him room..." Will your heart be one of those hearts?