Welcome to the P.J. (Pastor J) Sound Theology Blog

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Who Could Imagine A King

The City of Bethlehem & the  it's gates and walls of current oppression.

Well, it's Christmas Eve and I imagine that most of us are more than ready for Christmas to come. As we celebrate this blessing of a day pause to remember how God introduced himself into the world through Jesus announcement and birth. Let's look:
Matthew 1:17-25

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged (entrusted) to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus
Looking down on current day Bethlehem 



.Who could imagine a King (Whitney Houston song) would or even could be born in such a manner? What type of God would present it's presence in such a way? Only the one and true God would and could use such circumstances to present true hope,joy,love, and faith in a world so needy. Usually I use pictures that speak to the nature of this blog but that are not specific to me. Today I have supplied personal pictures of mine from Bethelem so that we can see even today the culture, promise and pain of the place that Jesus was born. A city in bondage and turmoil with so much love and faith. Who could imagine a king to be born here. Only the one true God. Glory be to God that the best blessings come from the most unexpected places. Glory to God for what you and I are not expecting to happen this Christmas that God has already put into place.
Christmas Eve outside of the Inn/ Barn Yard where Christ was born in Bethlehem 

Merry Christmas, Be Well... Love P.J.

1 comment:

Keep it 100 said...

Thank you for sharing your personal pictures from your trip to Bethlehem, what an AWESOME experience, I'm sure!!! We can live through these and similar pictures to see and better understand how God can allow THE King, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to be born in some of the most unexpected places, a humble beginning 14+14+14 generations after "Father Abraham" (who had many sons....). I love how you've drawn the connection not only to Jesus and his parents, but also to his lineage going all the way back to the Torah!
Yes, as we wait in expectation going through the Bible from Father Abraham, all the way to the New Testament scriptures, we can now celebrate the birth of Immanuel - God with us.
Amen!