Luke 2:1-14

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” vs. 7

When Luke wrote his beautiful account of Jesus’ birth, his graphic details emphasize the humble setting. Jesus wasn’t born in a royal palace but in a stable, and his first visitors were shepherds, not kings. There was intention in Luke’s description. Jesus was of humble origin, and not a child of privilege. There were no servants or nurses to assist Mary and Joseph–they made do with what they had, and Jesus grew up with a heart for the poor and the needy that was later reflected in his ministry. It made a difference. Those born to wealth and privilege don’t have a clue about the essentials of life, and they often behave like the rich people Jesus featured in his parables. These are the kinds of folks who grow up with an appetite for power, and they devote their lives to amassing fortunes for themselves and their cronies. It’s hard for such folks to be followers of Jesus. As he said several times, it’s impossible to serve both wealth and God! Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we can’t help but remember his birth in a manger and his life-long love of the poor. If we aspire to be his followers we would be advised to consider the stumbling block of riches and instead devote our lives to standing with those he called, “the least of these.”

Thought for the Day: Who are the least of these?