Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem

Today's Reading: Luke 2:1-7

Because Joseph, Mary's fiance was from the family of King David; when Caesar required everyone in his empire to be counted he had to go to Bethlehem which is the city of David. He traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary who was close to having her baby. And while they were there, the time came for the baby  to be born.

"She gave birth to her first child, a son. 

She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger." 

Luke 2:1-7 NLT

 

What is a manger? A manger is a trough to feel farm animals with. They put the hay in the trough, kind of like how you put food in your dog's bowl so the food isn't just on the floor.

But why did Mary put her baby in an animals food trough? When Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem  to be counted; there was no room for them in the Inn. An inn is like a hotel you can stay at if you are out of town. So the baby Jesus, the King of all heaven and earth was born in a farm animal stable. There is a Christmas carol we sing this time of year; about the joy of His coming.

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

Let earth receive Her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room."

Is there room for Him in your heart?

Joy, like a bright morning light from heaven; 

pierced through the darkness of sin and entered the world as a baby. 

He is the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. Even Caesar obeyed Him by ordering the census, the counting of his empire.This  required Joseph, from the family of David to return to  Bethlehem, the city of David. During this time Christ was born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet Micah said so many years before. Jesus is the King that God promised to David, when He said a king  from his own family will reign over his kingdom forever!

Advent is a time for us to slow down and think about the amazing coming of "Emmanuel, God with us" into this world as a baby, an infant King!

Joy to you this Christmas Season, our Lord IS come.
I pray you have a chance
to empty your heart to prepare room for Him
so you can receive your great King.

Immanuel, God with Us by Michelle Struss

 Read more about this painting at His Paint Brush.  
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Hey Kids, there is a picture of Mary with the baby Jesus that your Mom or Dad can print for you to color.

Mom and Dad, there is a color sheet you can copy and paste into a word file and print. It is large and some of the side bar over laps it. But don't worry it does not show up when you paste it in word to print. I copied and printed it last night and it came out really nice. The color sheet is linked above or you can find it in the side bar under Pages.