The Babe of Bethlehem - A Glenn Rawson Story

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The Babe of Bethlehem

Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem – He lived, and today He lives again, and watches over us as Mary once watched over Him. Where once He was cradled as a helpless babe in a lowly manger, now He reigns as King of Kings on a golden throne and in courts of eternal glory we cannot comprehend.

He was once then tender and fragile, helpless, as susceptible to death and injury as any other child, but now He is all-powerful and all-wise, the author and finisher of our faith.

He was born the Daystar, the light and life of the world. Where this world was dark and cruel on the night He came, He will make it glorious and perfect in a day to come.

He came a babe, but He was God – sent to a world that had forgotten God, and through Him, by Him, and of Him, all of us may be one with God.

Like every other baby ever born, His memory was veiled and his innocence was sweet. He descended from a heavenly throne, and never stopped that plunging descent until He was raised upon the Cross of Calvary. But now, the Savior stands above us all with hands outstretched inviting us to be one with Him where He is. He was comprehended by none, then, but now He comprehends and loves us all.

Be assured that as angels announced with heart and voice His coming the first time, they will do so again. Shepherds were His witnesses then, and they still are. He came once a suffering servant; He will come again, this time a conquering King.

At His birth, Jesus was adored by few, hated by some, and ignored by most, but no one can ignore Him now and in the day to come. He is our Savior and our Redeemer, meriting our worship and our universal adoration.
He was born a subject of Rome, a slave to Caesar’s whim, but He stands now the King above all Kings who will conquer all, even death and hell.
Mary, His mother, loved Him and from Bethlehem to Calvary she never left Him. Today, some of the best parents in the history of this world are here, and He never leaves them – if only the world understood how concerned about such matters He really is. I want you to know, our faith in Him is never unnoticed, unappreciated, or wasted. Our prayers are never ignored.

Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes when He was born, but now those swaddling clothes of the commoner are the resplendent white robes of eternal glory, and He will give them to you.

At His first coming, only Mary and Joseph saw to His comfort and care. The world more or less turned a cold heart. But we have His promise: when He comes again, His heart will be turned to those who have waited long for Him. You. And you will come forth, His loving kindness burning in your heart’s memory forever.

As Joseph and Mary took Him to Egypt and saved him from Herod’s hate and man’s envy, so too the Lord will take us out of Egypt, out of the world, to another world where hate and envy ne’er annoy.

He was born to a stable and raised to mansions of glory. On that first Christmas, no one understood the Babe of Bethlehem, and so no one made room for Him. But now, His heart, broad as the heavens, swells wide as eternity. There is, thank God, room in His heart for all of us.

He was born to us, but He is the Savior of worlds without number. He was born Mary’s Son; He rose Mary’s King! And ours.

My dear friends, on that first Christmas, Jesus came to us as a child. This Christmas, I hope you come to Him the same way.


Sources:
King James version of the New Testament
Isaiah in the Old Testament
3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon

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