Two Thoughts This Christmas Day – Sunday Thought For The Day

This Christmas morning I comment on two thoughts that have stirred my specific interest since I have been a Christian.  The first has to do with the number of persons not so much in the city of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth, but rather the number of people who actually came and ‘found’ Him on that glorious night.

The reason for my interest in the number of people, specifically shepherds, who came and found Him, is because it gives rise to my study of Matthew 7:14 KJV.

Matthew and Luke give the most detailed accounts of the birth of Christ.  And we can conclude from both writers that it wasn’t a great number of people who by invitation of angels came and found Messiah the Christ child.

Matthew 7:14 KJV concludes:“…and few there be that find it.”  The “it”: “…is the way, which leadeth unto life.”  Said “life” being salvation and eternity with Him in heaven.

In a few words, my point is that a few men followed the angelic invitation by coming to find the Christ-Child.  Tangentially same is referenced by in Matthew 7:14 KJV.

Historians seem to agree that at the time of Christ’s birth the population of Nazareth was 600 or slightly more, with considered study placing the population actually at 480 plus/minus.  With the population of Judea being perhaps 600,000 by the middle of the first century according to Tacitus, the Roman historian.

But none of that is my interest as such.  My interest is that at the birth of Christ a small number obeyed the angelic instruction and found the Child.  Those few, then went into the city and shared of what they had found and witnessed.

In Matthew 7:14 KJV, Christ explains the two paths, i.e., the wide and the narrow, specifically saying few there be who find the narrow, which is the path to life eternal.   The wide path is not necessarily occupied by the unsaved alone.  There are also those who believe themselves to be saved and also the carnal Christians.

We who truly are born-again Christians have an obligation to go into the city and share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.  The defiant and disobedient will continue on training, aiding and abetting in the corruption and godlessness of their defiant daughters, husbands, siblings and other children.  We cannot be discouraged by same.

The other thought I referenced has to do with the reference to “swaddling clothes.”  In this instance I have found Chaim Bentorah to be the most informative.

READ:
Luke 2:8-20 KJV
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 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.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.