ABOUT 1900 years ago, if you had gone into a certain stable in the town of Bethlehem, of Judea, you would have seen a very wonderful little Babe lying in a manger. Wasn’t that a strange place to find a little babe, having only a manger for a cradle? Well, it was because there was no room for these poor people in the inn or hotel.
But who was this Babe that was born at Bethlehem in a stable, and laid in a manger? He was a young king and was to be the Ruler of Israel. You will find Him mentioned in Micah 5:22But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2), where it says: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me, that is to be Ruler in Israel.” You will also find this Child spoken of in Isaiah 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6); “For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Surely this must have been a wonderful Babe! Indeed one of His names was Wonderful! Who was it? I think I hear some of you saying it was JESUS. Yes, it was Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus had come as a King and as a Saviour. He had come to rule over Israel, and He had, come to save sinners. They rejected Him as King, but this did not keep Him from laying down His life on the cross, that He might save sinners through His shed blood. He saves all who believe in Him. He is now exalted a Prince and a Saviour. Multitudes of men and women, boys and girls, are being saved through faith in His name. And although He is now rejected as King by the Jews, He will soon come again in great power and glory, and will make Himself known to the Jews as their King, whom they rejected when He came as the lowly Babe and the humble Man, and then they will repent of their sin in having crucified Him. They will then mourn and weep and sorrow with great sorrow, when they look on Him whom they pierced, and He will forgive them and become their King and reign over them and over all the earth.
Ah! dear children, if you believe in Jesus now, He will not only forgive all your sins and save you, but He will make you kings, too, and when He comes to reign, He will have you to sit on thrones, too, and reign with Him. Will not that be blessed? I wonder how many of my little readers expect to sit on thrones and reign with Jesus? Let each one ask himself or herself: “Shall I reign with Jesus?” A. H. R.
ML 04/01/1900