GENTLE MARY LAID HER CHILD

“Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:4–7).

The pregnant virgin (yes, that’s an oxymoron!) and her fiancé traveled the ninety miles of rough road from Nazareth to their ancestral home in Bethlehem. It wasn’t a honeymoon or a pleasure trip! The Roman government required them to make their way to the courthouse in David’s Town to register in the Empire’s census. Caesar demanded their obedience.

Arriving in the bustling village, they found the Motel-6 filled to capacity. No room! Not even one.

The kindly innkeeper, seeing the weary woman, great with child, allowed them to stay in the last available space… a cattle stall, complete with sheep, goats, chickens, and Bessy, the milk cow. It smelled like manure. It was dirty and drafty, but it was dry. 

It wasn’t antiseptic. There wasn’t an obstetrician on duty. There wasn’t a crib, but a feeding trough filled with hay. 

The eight-pound Jesus, the King of the Universe, was born in a barn.

Gentle Mary laid her Child

Lowly in a manger;

There He lay, the undefiled,

To the world a stranger:

Such a Babe in such a place,

Can He be the Savior?

… Son of God, of humble birth,

Beautiful the story;

Praise His name in all the earth,

Hail the King of glory!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).