Clues From the Story of the Birth of Christ

A clue is something, that will help solve a problem of a doubtful or intricate nature. In Bible days, they were called parables - stories that illustrated spiritual truths. No doubt, the most famous is about the prodigal son. Briefly, the son leaves home and becomes a wicked sinner. In time., he becomes desperate and returns home. The father is overjoyed to see him. The truth illustrated is that mankind departed from God to make it on his own hut soon found that be was desperate.. He returned home, and, to his surprise, his father was glad to see him. This is God's way of telling us that we are separated from Him, that we are in a desperate situation and that He longs for us to return to Him. This is a glorious truth. The birth of Christ is certainly not a parable. It is an account of actual events, but many details illustrate truths that God wants, us to know. We call these details clues. If we let them guide us, we will reap rich dividends. 1. Probably the best clue is that Jesus was born in a stable with animals. In the Bible, sinners are compared to animals. As such, they cannot enter heaven. "Without are dogs." (Rev. 22:15) So, Jesus, being born among animals is definitely a clue. It can only mean one thing: that as sinners, we were shut out of heaven, but He came to show us the way (and to be the way). He was born in a stable. That means He is willing to be born in us. 2. "There was no room in the inn." This is a graphic picture of our world having no time for God. This is common knowledge. What is not so well known is that most of us are in the same boat. We just don't have time for Him. Remember, He is not interested in a five-minute visit. He needs a place to stay. One or two hours a week is not making room. And remember, sitting in a church pew is not exactly making room. For many, that's just a time to daydream. The room He is interested in is the closet with the door shut (Isaiah 26:20 arid Matthew 6:6) There are other clues. Jerusalem was full of religious people and yet, the innkeeper didn't know one family that he could call on in such a desperate situation. Was no one there.in touch with God? If we had been living there, would somebody have said, "Oh, take them to the Smith's house?" Another thought, if Joseph had money to spare, wouldthe innkeeper have found room for him? These are clues to the desperate condition of our world, because we are no better than they were. Do we make room for people that are desperate? Jesus said if you do it for the least you do it for me. 3. Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough. Think of putting your newborn baby in the dog's bowl. What does it mean? For one thing, it suggests that Jesus is food, which He certainly claimed to be in John 6:47-57, "Except ye eat me —." It also reminds us of the question the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why do you eat with sinners?" (Mark 2:16) He. is telling us in this manger scene that He will associate with people no matter how bad they are, or think they are, in order to win them. 4. Jesus was born, as a helpless, baby into a world where both the political system and the religious systems considered murder to be a normal part of their activities. King Herod thought nothing of killing scores of babies on the chance he'd get the. newborn king. But God took care of Jesus. This is a clue, that no matter how helpless we are and surrounded by devils that would gladly kill us if they could,(and where they have the power, they do kill),. God can and will take care of us, and if not, rest assured, it is for our good and God's greater glory. 5. Mary was put in a terrifying situation. It was not just being poor and having to take a long hard journey, and seeming to be all alone in the world. She knew she would be the subject of malicious gossip about her child- She had to be one of God's chosen few, as can be seen in her response to the angel's announcement: "I am the Lord's servant. I am willing to do whatever He wants. May everything you said come true" Would we respond to God that way if He asked us to visit the mental institution, the prisons, the flophouses or the slums? God knew Mary would yield to Him, so she was choose Remember that "many are called, but few choose to respond." 6. Jesus was born in Bethlehem Ephrata, (the house of bread, fruitful). This is an obvious clue. The Word qf God is our daily bread. To be born qf God and to grow we have to read it. House of bread and fruitful are joined together. If you're living in the house of bread, you will be fruitful. If you have no fruit, take this clue at all costs, and get into the Word. Remember Jesus said, "Man lives by every Word of God." (Matthew 4:4) 7. Jesus should have been born in a palace, as God's son. Mary was given the insight as to why that was impossible. Luke 1:51-53. "He has scattered the proud, put down the mighty, and sent the rich empty away." God has only contempt for "big shots" that live in palaces. Psalm 34 says, "God is near such as be of a contrite spirit." Isaiah 66:2 says, "To this man will I look - that is poor and of a contrite spirit." 8. The angel qf the Lord announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds. They were the lowest of the low in that day and they were humble. Why were not the priests and Pharisees told? Because their religious system was saturated with pride, Luke 2:2.0 says "The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God. This doesn't fit the image of the Pharisees at all. The clue here is that we should always be humble, giving glory to God. 9. The, announcement qf the birth of Jesus was also made to wise men from the East. They were Gentiles from a far country, considered by the Jews to be dogs. So this is a clue that Jesus was not only to be the savior of Jews, but of the whole world. This should have caused the Jews to see that Gentiles could be saved, but they missed it. Another clue is that it helps to be wise. Proverbs chapter 8 is about wisdom. It ends by saying, "Who finds me finds life." What is this wisdom? It is the Word of God. and what is the life? It is Jesus. God rewards the truly wise. We should also know from the wise men that God guides true seekers. (1 Chronicles 28:9) If we seek Him He will be found of us. They went to extraordinary lengths to find the king. They were seekers. Jeremiah 29:13 says, "Ye shall find me when you seek me with all your heart," "God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) This is a spiritual law; if you seek nothing, you'll get nothing. Let not the lazy man think that he will get anything from the Lord. 10. The wise men brought gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is a clue that God welcomes and appreciates our gifts. We read in John 4:23 that God seeks worship. Gold stands fqr holiness, frankincense stands for prayers and myrrh is used in anointing oil. These gifts are clues to the kind of gifts God is interested in. 11. The most important clue of all is that Mary was to give birth to the Son of God. This is a huge clue as to God's purpose. What happened to her is what God desires for all of us. As the seed of the Holy Spirit was planted in her, so the seed qf the Holy Spirit should be planted in us. Matthew 13:18 and following explain this process. The seed (The Word of God) is planted in good soil (receptive heart). It will grow and develop until the Son qf God is formed in us and in the fullness of time, be revealed to the world Paul says in Galatians 4:19, "I travail in birth until Christ be formed in you." In Genesis 16, there is the story of Abraham's two sons: One,. Ishmael,. being born naturally, and the other, Isaac, being born supernaturally. The conceiving and birthing of Christ in us is like Isaac's birth, a supernatural event. Jesus was born in due time and revealed to the world So, the time is coming when we will be revealed as sons qf God. We read in Romans 8:19 that the whole world is waiting fqr the manifestation, of the sons of God. Romans 8:29 says that Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers. This is the purpqse of the whole creation and everyone who reads this article should be a part of it. For those who wonder what to do, look at the response of Mary in Luke 1:38 when she heard the good news. "Be it unto me according to your Word." In verse 53, Mary says, "The hungry He has filled with good things." If we are hungry for God, He will respond to us. He says, "Ask and you shall receive."