Child of Hope, Luke 2:1-7 (Hope in a Manger, pt. 2)

Our choir has sang beautifully the story of Jesus’ birth. Let’s read part of that story- Luke 2:1-7, 1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

My wife and I have three babies- 26, 20, & 18. Each time we found out that we were having a baby, it was both exciting and scary. There were feelings of anxiety and a sense of anticipation. You wonder- What will we have? Who will they look like? What will they become? You can’t wait to meet them! 9 months seems like forever, and then all of a sudden, bam- the baby is on their way, you’re rushing to the hospital, you wait some more, but then, there they are- you’re new little baby. The child you’ve been hoping for is now here.

I’m sure Mary and Joseph had similar feelings of anxiety and a sense of anticipation for the birth of Jesus.They already knew they were going to have a boy. They knew His name was to be Jesus. They even knew who He would be and what He would do.

For centuries Israel had been waiting for a king to come, & Mary had been told that her baby would be Him (Luke 1:31-33). Israel had been waiting for someone to come and save them, & Joseph was told that Mary’s Son would be Him (Matthew 1:20-21). Promises had been made; prophecies had been written. Their baby was literally hope in a manger.

Hope can be hard to come by.I don’t need to tell you that life is hard. Bad things happen. Difficult times come. Often, we don’t know what we are going to do or how to get through it. Think about Mary & Joseph.

Mary was an unwed teen mom. Joseph was engaged to a social outcast. Their homeland was occupied by terrorists. Citizens were heavily taxed & people often lost their land & livelihood. Here they were giving birth in a barn & laying their baby in a feeding trough. Everyone has hopes for their children, but when Mary laid that baby boy down in a manger, she was quite literally looking at the Child of Hope.

Jesus is God’s Son. He came to save people from their sins. He will come again to reign as King.

This Christmas, let us be Titus 2:13, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for hope, look to Jesus. He is the Child of Hope.