SILENT NIGHT

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar came to worship the night that Love Came Down from Heaven.  They held candles and sang Silent Night.  And like Mary, they would keep all these things and ponder them in their hearts.

SCRIPTURE

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. (Luke 2:1-7)

FOOLISH WISDOM

In being laid in a manger, he did, as it were, give an invitation to the most humble to come to him.  We might tremble to approach a throne, but we cannot fear to approach a manger.  Never could there be a being more approachable than Christ.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the stable of the inn to show how free he is to all comers.  The Gospel is preached to every creature and shuts out none. If you desire to come to Christ you may come to him just as you are; you may come now.  Whoever has the desire in his heart to trust Christ is free to do it.  Jesus is free to you; he will receive you; He will welcome you with gladness, and to show this, I think, the young child was cradled in a manger. (Charles Spurgeon)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you who are man’s Maker were made man, that You, the Creator of the milky way might nurse at your mother’s breast, that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that the Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded, that Life itself might die. (Augustine)  Let us fall down and worship and adore you as true wise men.  Amen.