Mary and Joseph lived in the small town of Nazareth. This is where the angel came to each of them to announce the coming of Jesus. Nazareth is a small town up in the northern part in Israel, near the sea of Galilee. The prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming of the King.
"In Galilee of the Gentiles,
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..."
Isaiah 9:2, 6
What? In Nazareth? "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"John 1:46 Isn't Jesus supposed to be born in Bethlehem as the song goes? "O Little Town of Bethlehem"?
"But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth for Me The One to be Ruler in Israel,
whose goings forth are from old,
From everlasting." Micah 5:2
How is it then that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Interestingly enough, It was through a decree from the Roman Emperor Augustus that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem for a census. Ironically it was through Augustus that Micah's prophesied was fulfilled.
"At that time the Roman Emperor Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire... All returned to their ancestral towns to register for the census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there... with... Mary, his fiancee, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them." Luke 2:1-7 NLT
Let earth receive Her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room."
Let every heart prepare Him room."
There was no room for them in the Inn. So He, the King of all heaven and earth was born in a stable with animals to simple peasants. Through the ages since His Coming, millions have prepared room for Him in their hearts across the face of the earth.
Joy pierced through the darkness of sin and entered the world as a baby, beginning the gathering of heaven and earth into one and the reconciliation of God and man. Though the Creator came unto His own creation, most did not recognize Him. But that did not keep heaven from rejoicing and those in whom His light has shown from from worshiping the infant King.
