Jesus Once of Humble Birth.

Every year, my family carefully unwraps several porcelain figurines which combine to display the crowd of shepherds and animals gathered around to see the newly born Jesus with his mother mother Mary, and adoptive father Joseph.  Yesterday evening, Elder Meza unwrapped the second of a set that his friends at home sent him.
This morning I was pondering the humble circumstances surrounding Christ's birth.  In the past several Christmases I've seen many beautiful nativity scenes which capture the details of the event rather simply and accurately.  Other's become much more distracted by commercialism, or hopefully are just drawing Christ's glory into the physical portrayal of the event, and display a comfortable royal splendor which was very unlikely present at when Jesus Christ was born.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [Luke 2:7]

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat (foods of the poor), that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. [Isaiah 7:14-15]

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.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. [Luke 2:15-16]

The Savior of the world was born amid the lowly setting of a manger, or stall of a barn.  Despite his royal lineage, he was raised by are carpenter.

Many may not consider this to be among the typical Christmas songs, however it is rather fitting for the focus we're trying to capture for our Christmas season.  Christ's birth and glory give a striking contrast which we should be slow to forget.

1. Jesus, once of humble birth,

Now in glory comes to earth.

Once he suffered grief and pain;

Now he comes on earth to reign.

Now he comes on earth to reign.

2. Once a meek and lowly Lamb,

Now the Lord, the great I Am.

Once upon the cross he bowed;

Now his chariot is the cloud.

Now his chariot is the cloud.

3. Once he groaned in blood and tears;

Now in glory he appears.

Once rejected by his own,

Now their King he shall be known.

Now their King he shall be known.

4. Once forsaken, left alone,

Now exalted to a throne.

Once all things he meekly bore,

But he now will bear no more.

But he now will bear no more.

Hymn #196 in Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Text: Parley P. Pratt, 18071857
Music: Giacomo Meyerbeer, 17911864, adapted

What difference a table makes...

Again I saw myself sitting in the middle of one of the proverbs that the Savior used so much in his teaching. He said in Luke 14:8-11:

When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 

I can imagine the higher and lower rooms being like the kids table and adults table my family would have at thanksgiving. From Christ's words I can imagine the shame the would come from taking a seat at the adults table and being told to go sit with the kids. By contrast, the joy that comes from being asked to leave the kids table and sit with the adults is it's own reward.  I know Christ expects us to humble ourselves and be willing to accept a role that's beneath what we want before he'll give us something better.

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.