The Next Morning

The Bible doesn't tell us about the next morning. The morning after Jesus was born when daylight appeared and the sun shone down upon Bethlehem. We are left to wonder what the day was like for the new mother and her baby king. I wonder if the star was still visible in the sky. I wonder if Mother Mary had trouble feeding baby Jesus. Did people still gather around the  stable and peer lovingly into the manger? Was Joseph tempted to shoo people away so Mary and Jesus could rest?

Did the city of Bethlehem rumble with the sound of voices as people passed the word about what had happened that night? Or was the Holy Family alone with the animals still trying to grasp the reality of what had happened the evening before? We don't know how many days the shepherds traveled to follow the star but we do know it was probably years that the Magi traveled to reach the baby king.

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19 NIV) She must have been overwhelmed with love for infant Jesus and by the worshipful shepherds as they came to behold the baby. Surely the shepherds told Mary and Joseph about the star overhead that led them to the stable that night. Perhaps Joseph even slipped outside to take a look himself. The star must have reassured him that the message the angels brought was true. Their baby was the "Son of God", "Son of the Most High", "Immanuel", "God with us", "Jesus".

The unanswered questions don't matter. What does matter is that our Savior arrived that night in Bethlehem and he continues to reign in our lives today. May you celebrate today by praising God for sending his Son to save us. Amen and Amen.