The Cry
Two thousand years ago, the cry of a baby was heard in Bethlehem. To many, it was just another child being born under the oppression of Rome. But there was something different about this cry. Something that would change the world. To understand the significance of this, let’s rewind back another four thousand years.
At the dawn of creation, there was no Bethlehem, no stable and no star. But a voice rang out across the blackness. And at the sound of that mighty voice, the sun burst into a flaming ball of light. This voice spoke again and the waters shrank back in submission as dry land appeared. As God Almighty spoke, birds began to fly, fish began to swim and flowers began to bloom. Oh! The power of God’s voice!
Job 37:5 says “God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.”
Psalms 46:6 “…he uttered his voice, the earth melted.”
Psalms 97:5 “The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.”
1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
With all of these descriptions, our minds cannot comprehend how powerful God really is. But what overwhelms my mind is that this same God cried out from a stable in Bethlehem. Only this cry came from a helpless, new born baby. Born in a dusty old barn and placed in a feeding trough for a crib, the Almighty God robed himself with flesh and blood. Oh! What greater picture of love can we find than this?
Other religions stumble at this concept. They cannot bring themselves to see how a god would lower himself to such a degree. But this had already been prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
As with any new born baby, this cry signified a new beginning. Oh, but what a glorious new beginning it was! Jesus made it clear that His life’s destiny was to die. Mark 10:45. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
God’s only begotten Son, who had healed the sick and raised the dead, was sentenced to die the most torturous death known to mankind.
With His body beaten beyond recognition, He cried out from Calvary’s hill, “It is finished!” Then Jesus bowed his head and died. Was this the end? Would the voice from the manger and now the cross be heard again? Three days later, we find a woman weeping outside the tomb. Then the voice speaks again: “Mary.” And when He spoke, Mary Magdelene knew that it was her risen Saviour.
My friend, are listening to His voice? He is calling your name. Not from a manger, but from the doorstep of your heart. Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
If you have never experienced a personal relationship with Jesus, I encourage you to pray this prayer: Jesus, I believe that you came in the flesh as a baby. I believe that you died on a cross for my sins and that you rose from the dead. I accept you as my personal Saviour and my soon coming King. In Jesus name, Amen!