by Richard Ellis

Created on: May 15, 2009

Two Journeys
It was prophesied long, long ago
That a great miracle should occur:
A virgin would conceive by the Holy Ghost,
And a baby boy would be born to her.

He would be Emmanuel (God with us),
Jesus, Savior and Lord;
God come to earth to live as a man,
The Son of the Most High, the incarnate Word.

And so it came to pass, as all things do,

In the fullness of God's plan,
That a young maid named Mary conceived a child,
Though she never had known a man.

As her time drew near she went with her husband Joseph,
Descendant of David and Abraham,
On a wearisome journey from their home in Nazareth,
To the place of his birth, Bethlehem.

They had come there out of civic duty
To pay to Caesar their lawful tax.
But now they needed a place to rest,
And give Mary a chance to relax.

Their journey had been long and difficult.
The evening was cold, clear and bright.
Joseph led a donkey with Mary on its back,
In search of a place to stay that night.

Her time was at hand, but the city was crowded;
And no room could be found at the inn.
So Joseph took Mary to a stable nearby,
Where Jesus' journey on earth would begin.

There He was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes,
And laid in a manger to sleep.
A lowly beginning for so great a King,
Being born amidst cattle and sheep.

Shepherds abiding in the fields that night,
Were startled at the sound of angel wings,
Who came to announce the birth of the Christ;
The long awaited King of Kings.

They came to the town from the fields roundabout ,
(Where they had been watching over their flocks)
To marvel at the newborn Lamb of God,
Who shared lodgings with the donkey and ox.

They knelt down near the infant Jesus
To worship, praise and adore Him.
Wise men from afar laid gifts of gold,
Frankincense and myrrh before Him.

His birth in so lowly a circumstance,
Presupposes His death on the cross.
To be made propitiation for our sins,
So we should not suffer eternal loss.

The swaddling clothes in which He was wrapped,
To help His limbs grow straight and strong,
Picture the bindings of a later day,
And the grave which would not hold Him long.

He journeyed through this world for thirty-three years,
Showing us how we should live.
Teacher and Lord, the way, truth and life;
He gave all that was His to give.

To think that all of this was done for us,
Who could do nothing to earn God's grace.
He was born to die a shameful death
To save this wicked human race.

And yet at a time when we should be most grateful
For this great gift from God,
We lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas
And give Christ just a passing nod.

How ashamed the lost world should be,
(And Christians even more-so)
For being so self-centered and self-righteous,
That Christmas is made into one huge sideshow.

Christians! Don't follow this selfish world,
But give Him all honor, all glory, all praise;
Worship our Lord and give thanks to Him,
Not only on Christmas, but all days.

Lost one, humble yourself and repent.
Come out of the wicked world and it's strife.
Keep the true Spirit of Christmas in your heart;
Declare Christ Lord of your life.

Remember Jesus' journey from crib to cross,
And the true meaning of that first Christmas night:
The reason for His coming was to bring us salvation,
And brighten this dark world with His light.

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