December 11, 2019
A song says, “How silently, how silently the wondrous Gift is given.” Bethlehem was anything but silent the night Jesus was born into our world, but His appearance was amazingly quiet. The Bible talks about Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the stable. Since it was nighttime, the animals were probably quiet.
Perhaps this quiet appearance is one reason the Israelites failed to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. They wanted a king to overtake the Romans and put their own nation in a place of power.
The ruling king, Herod, recognized the potential threat of a new king, so he put a plan in place to have Jesus killed. But Herod failed, because no human can put an end to God’s promised Savior. More than 30 years later, the Israelites got very noisy as they insisted on the death of Jesus. They could not accept His quiet ministry of showing value to every individual.
Even Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was quiet for the most part. Hundreds of people saw Him, but His own fellow Israelites continued to reject Him.
The next time Jesus visits our planet in person, it will not be a quiet appearance. The Bible says that everyone will realize Who He is – some to everlasting life with Him and some to eternal separation from Him.
Never underestimate the quiet working of Creator God. The Scripture writer is right: “In quietness and confidence we have strength.”
Pastor Bill Ehmann