It seems as though everyone is talking about the Royal baby today. Just over 2000 years ago, there was another royal baby destined not to rule England but the world.
Luke 2:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
The royal baby and Jesus share some common elements at their births, but it’s the difference between the two that can save you.
1) The royal baby in England has been anticipated since December (or perhaps since his parents birth); Jesus was anticipated for over a thousand years.
2) William and Kate had an appointed place to give birth; prophecy had been given over a thousand years for where Jesus was to be born.
3) Both babies have attentive parents, but only Jesus was conceived of a virgin.
4) England’s royal baby was born in a hospital and likely dressed in the finest baby clothes; Jesus was born in a stable and wrapped in swaddling clothes.
5) A royal messenger announced the English baby’s birth; angels (God’s messenger’s) announced Jesus’s birth.
6) Both Jesus and the royal baby had visitors and many brought gifts for the precious babies.
7) The English baby is the hope of a continued monarchy in England; Jesus reigns eternally and gives us the hope of eternal live.
In all of the hoopla regarding the new baby today, please take a moment to remember the other baby that came to this world to change the world and to change you. Jesus loves you and he wants to give you eternal life. You can’t find that in any other baby.
Jesus, keep our minds set on you – today and everyday. Amen.