I love Christmas. I love thinking about the events surrounding the birth of Christ. I love celebrating his birth. I love how Mary “pondered” the Angel’s words in her heart.
I like to think of her snuggling him right after he was born. Did she count his fingers and toes? Did she look at him to see if he had any of her features? This was her baby and her savior. Imagine the love and adoration she must have had.
Just imagine you are pulling the late shift at work (the shepherds) and some amazingly awesome being tells you the person you’ve been told about since birth has been born. Do you leave your sheep unattended? Did they cast lots or pull straws to determine if anyone needed to stay back and continue keeping watch or did they act on faith and leave knowing they would be okay?
I love the perfectly orchestrated details. The glory of the Angels would not have been as great during the middle of the day but at night I’m sure it was breath taking. God could have ensured their arrival in Bethlahem in time to get the best accommodations. He’s God and it was his son, heir, part of him heading to earth on a mission.
Oh the Magi…imagine them showing up after traveling for months and quite a distance. They brought the baby some gifts. How wonderful and thoughtful and prophetic of them. They literally came from the ends of the earth to worship this new born king. God could have used local wealthy people to bring gifts. But these three people and their entourage went back to their country using a different route. You know people asked them coming and going why they were traveling such a great distance. Think of all the people they would have told about this infant king.
I love how Joseph had a dream to get up and leave immediately. You know God could have given them more notice so they could pack more supplies and get some souvenirs. I also love to think Joseph and Mary hesitated or waited until the last minute to awaken Jesus. You never wake a sleeping baby, right?
Of all the places on earth to run to for safety, they went to Egypt. Of course this was to fulfill the scripture.
I love all of those reminders of how God will orchestrate a situation down to the minute details.