12-25-17 A Crowded Inn and the Birth of God's Messiah
A Crowded Inn and the Birth of God’s Messiah :: By Geri Ungurean
A Crowded Inn, A Jewish Handmaiden, And the Birth of God’s Messiah
Catholics have sought to deify the mother of Jesus for centuries. She is called “Queen of Heaven,” “Mother of God,” “Co-Redemptrix,” “Sinless Virgin,” and so many other names which do not in any way describe this Jewish handmaiden.
When a Catholic visits a priest for confession, that person is told to recite prayers to Mary. Surely she will get these prayers to her son, right? Wrong. The confession and prayers should be taken boldly to the throne of Christ. We have access to the Lord of Glory! Why go to His mother, especially when she is dead.
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’
“But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’
“Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’
“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:26-35).
The Magnificat
“And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever’” (Luke 1:46-55).
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever’” (Luke 1:46-55).
Please notice that in the second verse of the magnificat, Mary says “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (emphasis added)
Yes, Mary needed a Savior just as much as we do!
Many Catholics, who strive to convince others that Mary is alive in heaven and is Queen of heaven, use this Scripture to that end:
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).
Jesus was saying “John, take care of my mother.” And this is confirmed in verse 27, when it says that John brought Mary to his own home. How the evil one loves to twist Scripture!
How angels gazed upon this long awaited birth of God’s own Son on the earth
We know that the multitude of the heavenly host joined the first angel in announcing the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds – these very extraordinary shepherds. Did you know that these particular shepherds were appointed by the high priests to raise the most perfect lambs to be used in their sacrifices?
Little did they know that these angels were proclaiming that God was sending His Perfect Lamb – His Only Son of whom John the Baptist would say, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus was the final Lamb of God, and before He died that horrific death on the Cross, He said “It is finished.”
Playing Mary in Christmas Plays
I am older now, but I really can’t remember how many times I played the part of Mary in our church’s Christmas plays. However, I do remember how I felt when I was dressed up as Mary, and especially when I would hold the child who represented our Messiah Yeshua. I was overcome to the point of tears; sometimes it was difficult to get through songs.
I imagined to myself that GOD had come in the flesh. Think about that – GOD – the Creator had wrapped himself in human flesh, and He came for one main reason:
He came to die for our sins, and to conquer death and hell, so that we could be reconciled to the Father in heaven. Incredible and so amazing!
Tell the Christmas Story
This Christmas, if you are having family and friends over who do not believe, take this opportunity to tell the Christmas story – read it out of Luke. Remember – some people have NEVER heard the Word of God. And what better Scripture for them to hear?!
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
“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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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.
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:1-20).
Hallelujah and Praise to our Lord!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
MARANATHA!
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