moral concerns a baby was born
( All Scripture references are from the King James Version , unless otherwise noted .)
I Once upon a time , a baby was born in Bethlehem . Nobody noticed . Nobody cared . “ He was in the world , and the world was made by Him , and the world knew Him not ” ( John 1:10 ). His parents were turned away from the inn . Nobody made room for a pregnant woman .
Caesar Augustus was taxing his subjects , and every man had to get his family registered for the census . Joseph , born of the tribe of Judah , went to Bethlehem , the city of David , Israel ’ s most famous king . Joseph took Mary , his betrothed , with him . In God ’ s providence , their Son was born that very night .
Caesar Augustus , the first of the Roman emperors , gave himself the title , “ Divi Filius ,” which means “ Son of the Divine .” One of the great ironies of history is that one of his subjects was Jesus Christ — the true Son of the Divine . People knew who Caesar Augustus was . As for Jesus Christ : “ He was in the world , and the world was made by Him , and the world knew Him not ” ( John 1:10 ).
Jesus Christ , the second Person of the Trinity , was born that night , and nobody noticed . The Geneva Bible ( 1560 edition ) describes the birth : “ And she broght forthe her first begotten sonne , & wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a cratch , because there was no rowme for them in the ynne ” ( Luke 2:7 ). The word “ cratch ” is an archaic word for :
“ manger ” “ crib ” “ a crib or rack especially for fodder ” “ a rack for hay or livestock fodder ”
Nobody noticed . Nobody cared . “ He came unto His own , and His own received Him not ” ( John 1:11 ).
He came unto His own , and His own received Him not . That didn ’ t just happen at the crucifixion . That also happened on the verge of his birth . Yes , it happened at His exit from His earthly life , but it also happened at His entry into His earthly life . “ He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of many sorrows and acquainted with grief ” ( Isaiah 53:3a ).
Here was the Savior being born into the world to save people ’ s souls , and the people at the inn didn ’ t know it . Yes , He was acquainted with sorrow , and His parents were similarly acquainted on the night of His birth . Yes , on that night , Joseph and Mary , the couple charged with bringing the Savior into the world , were acquainted with sorrow . They were in need , but nobody helped . The Savior was born , but nobody noticed . Nobody cared .
II
God doesn ' t leave Himself without witness ( John 1:6-8 ; Romans 10:17 ; Acts 14:17 ) -- and He didn ' t remain silent for long . After the Savior was born , He saw to it that somebody noticed . On that same night , He raised up a set of witnesses :
“ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field , keeping watch over their flock by night . And , lo , the angel of the Lord came upon them , and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid . And the angel said unto them , Fear not : for , behold , I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people . For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior , which is Christ the Lord . And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes , lying in a manger ” ( Luke 2:8-12 ).
God didn ' t send His angel to Caesar Augustus . He sent His angel to a group of shepherds . In terms of importance , the shepherds were among the lowest of the low . Perhaps only the tax collectors were despised more . Yet the shepherds were the first to hear about the Savior ' s birth — and they ran to see Him . They were the first to see the Savior — and they soon became the first to tell about His birth : “ And when they had seen it , they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child ” ( Luke 2:17 ). The shepherds were the first evangelists in the year of our Lord .
III
Jesus Christ , the God-Man , the Sinless One who died for the sins of His people ( Isaiah 53:11-12 ; Matthew 1:21 ; Romans 5:8 ), was once a baby . He loved children ( Matthew 9:14 ; Mark 10:14 ; Luke 18:16 ) — and He was once a child . On the night the Savior was born , the shepherds celebrated . The people of Bethlehem didn ' t .
IV
The birth of a child is a joyous occasion and a blessing . It ' s a cause for celebration . Too many times today the birth of a child isn ' t celebrated . Too many times today the birth of a child never happens . The law of the land says ending life in the womb is legal . The Law of God says it ' s murder ( Exodus 20:13 ; Psalm 139:13 ; Jeremiah 1:5-6 ; Luke 1:21 ). As the church of Jesus Christ , we ' re called to be like the shepherds . We are witnesses of the Living Savior . Let ' s pray and work to make sure all babies are given the right to be born , so they , too , can be witnesses of the Living Savior .
Matt Haddad ( formerly pro-choice )
Moral Concerns Committee
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