Listen to this article
Merry Christmas!
What a day to celebrate, born is the King.
Today, Christmas Day, I would love to read you the Christmas story and share a Christmas message. Hopefully, this can be something to play while you’re cleaning up Christmas breakfast or getting dressed for Christmas dinner as a quiet few moments for you to reflect on the significance of this day.
Born is the King.
Listen and subscribe to the Do Gooders Podcast now. Below is a transcript of the episode, edited for readability. For more information on the people and ideas in the episode, see the links at the bottom of this post.
* * *
In the next few minutes, you’ll hear from Commissioner Doug Riley, the Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army Western Territory, along with a few Christmas songs to enjoy.
But first, allow me to read from Luke 2:1-20:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Commissioner Doug Riley: Born is the King. Born is the King. For centuries, the birth of royalty around the world has been announced by bells ringing, town criers and announcements nailed to the gates of palaces. The arrival of a new prince, someone who would become a king of a nation, brings excitement to the land, hope and joy for the future, and everybody wants to meet him.
I remember the days that each of my four boys were born. We too were excited to share the announcement of their arrival on earth. Now, we didn’t have a palace to post the announcement nor did we even have social media to be able to share the news. We picked up the phone and called family and friends. And while our boys were not royalty, to our family and friends, they might as well have been.
Everyone wanted to see them, to hold them, and, yes, to bring them gifts. Maybe not lavish gifts of gold, frankincense or myrrh, but definitely stuffed toys, rattles, diapers, blankets and new clothes. Family and friends quickly gathered at the hospital to get a glimpse of the newborn baby. And I remember how proud Colleen and I were to show off our new sons to everyone. They already meant the world to us and more. God had entrusted us to raise our baby boys, and we had no idea what their future looked like. Sometimes as a parent that can feel overwhelming.
Mary and Joseph were also excited to show off their newborn son because they loved him. But here lies the major difference. They already knew what his future was, that he was the Son of God, the Messiah sent to save the world. The Scriptures had prepared the world for the arrival of Jesus.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).
And the angel prepared Mary for Jesus saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:30-32a).
And the angel prepared Joseph saying, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:20-21).
So Mary and Joseph, obedient to God, made the long trek to the town of Bethlehem where their son, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, was born. His arrival was certainly not that of an earthly king. There was no palace, no fanfare, no glorious celebration. In fact, the very beginning of his life, men who feared his eternal powers sought opportunities to kill him. But those who knew who he truly was, immediately, they wanted to worship him. They wanted to see for themselves this King who had been promised to them, the mighty God in the form of an infant boy.
The angels sang from the heavens announcing the arrival of the Son of God to earth. The shepherds came. They knelt before the manger and worshiped him. The wise men following the bright star above, bringing expensive, lavish gifts, bowed their heads, knelt before him, and worshiped him. They knew that this child was going to save the world. He was bringing joy and hope to all nations, and that all who believed and followed him would have eternal life.
It’s truly a remarkable story, but it’s more than that. It’s the truth lived out over the past 2,000 years in the lives of millions of people around this world. Jesus, the Son of God, arrived on earth as a baby boy, was worshiped by men, lived his life, serving and healing others, and then was killed on our behalf. He conquered death by rising from the grave, opening up a way for each of us to experience life eternal.
So today, this Christmas season, we have a choice to make. Do we want to experience and find everlasting joy, hope and purpose in our lives?
If so, then each one of us, like the shepherds and the wise men, need to approach him bowing to his majesty and glory, bringing our gift of our lives. And in doing so, we are guaranteed a life full of joy, hope and peace.
What will you give him this Christmas?
Additional resources:
- Get inside the Caring Magazine Scripture Study Collection and find a suite of free, downloadable Bible studies to guide you through topics from New Beginnings Through Forgiveness, to Understanding our Imago Dei or Life Hacks From David.
Listen and subscribe to the Do Gooders Podcast now.
Download this page as a PDF
