Friday: The Big Bus Trip 23

Good Morning my dear brothers and sisters ... Today is in my opinion, National Exchange Day, and you can quote me on that one ... I never heard it used by anyone else ... It is the day when people take back those clothes that do not fit, or that they do not like, and exchange them for other things ... I can remember one time years ago returning something that did not fit, and I did it the day after Christmas ... The gift I received was a pair of trousers and they were the wrong size ... So I took them back and checked them in and was given a store credit ... Since I liked the trousers and wanted to replace them with the right size I went into that department and found them ... Wow, 60% off ... So with my store credit I was able to get three pair of the same trousers in different colors ... Gosh, how blessed was I that day... and today I am still blessed. Today many people will go to the stores and exchange things for one reason or another, however for us here on the line, we are going back to the manger and take a look at what happened according to the Bible and what might have happened that is not recorded in the Bible. We are going to look at who came and who didn't come to worship Jesus.

The Big Bus Trip 23: We park our fleet of buses near the manger today and the first thing we are going to do is get off the buses and gather around this Child and Worship Him ... So lets do it in song before we step back and watch who really showed up ... I can think of no better song to sing at the Manger then this. Will you join me in what is considered a children's song ...

"AWAY IN A MANGER"

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay."

"The cattle are lowing the Baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by His Cradle till morning is nigh."

"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children to Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there."

So who was first at at The Lord's side after Mary and Joseph? In my mind, I am going to say more than likely the Inn Keeper who more than likely really felt badly that he had no place for Mary and Joseph to stay other than in the barn ... From there and before any of the visitors I would think the Angel of The Lord would have been there looking, watching, protecting, and then when the birth of Jesus came, going out to tell others. Now the Bible tells us this, that the angel of the Lord went to the fields nearby, and I talked about that yesterday ... The angel startled those shepherds as the angels did when he went to the others. Now since those shepherds were in fields nearby, they most likely came in that first day, with others coming maybe the second day or third, or the rest of the week. Now we also know according to the Bible who did not come to the manger and that is the three kings or three wise men as they are sometimes called. You can find this recorded in Matthew 2: 1/12. Now we know that Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked about the Lord Jesus. And here they talk about the "Star in the East." King Herod sent others out to find Jesus and bring back a report to him so he could go and visit this special Baby. Here is why we know that the Magi did not make it to the manger ...

Matthew 2: 10/11 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. (NIV)

The key word on location here is "house" so we know that the baby was moved to the temple on the eighth day to be circumcised and I am going to write a tad about that on a Saturday Special tomorrow ... So maybe Jesus was in the barn until the eighth day or moved in a day or so, we just do not know and it just does not mean a whole lot, the message is really about the Birth of our Lord Jesus to a very young lady named Mary who was a virgin ... And that we should Worship this one we know as Jesus ... So let me wrap it up today by saying more than likely that everyone from the town of Bethlehem or most everyone came to see Jesus ... After all they could also see the star ... Also all who came to the Inn and all who might have been camping in the fields nearby who came like Mary and Joseph to register ... and lets go out with just a prayer of praise and worship and on this Friday the day we pray for those who go to the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus ...

Dear Jesus, we lift You today in Praise, for we know that Your birth was a humble one, Your walk on earth an amazing one, and your death on the cross a cruel one ... But we know Lord Jesus it was all done for us ... Each and everything You did in Your life was done for all of us, yes for us, for me ... and Lord today we just want to go to work for You in those fields of Harvest that You told us to go into and we want to lift You in praise for all of that, and for taking care of our needs ... and for dying for us on that cross and for saving us from our very own sins ... Thank You Jesus, praise You Jesus. Thank You Jesus, we Love You Jesus ... I love You Jesus ... and Lord now I want to get busy and share Your blessings and I pray all others do also ... use us Lord ... Use us ... In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Go forth now sharing your blessings and if you go out and fight the crowds at the malls, put on your Jesus face, smile, for you are a "CHILD OF GOD" and we do not ever want to forget that ... and we need to live for Him and act like Him. And in the stores be nice, let them see Jesus in You ... and share your blessings ... love ya, dan.