A Royal Birth

On Tuesday the long awaited birth announcement was made in London, written on a simple easel board, that an heir to the throne had been born.  Instantly the news was flashed around the globe by those journalists who had waited for days in anticipation of this much heralded event.  People, not only in Britain, but around the world celebrated the birth of the new prince, who is as at yet unnamed.  And yesterday, when Prince William and Kate left the hospital, they had to first stop at a bevy of microphones to share their feelings about the birth of their first child.  And we were stunned to learn that Prince William had changed his first diaper.  Amazing!  (By the way, from what it seems at present, Prince William and Kate want to be normal parents.  I applaud them for this and hope that they will keep that focus and determination). 

Maybe it was just me, but I was struck by the fanfare that this little baby boy received, even before he was born.  Every night there was a special segment on the news titled, "Baby Watch."  There was almost a frenzy the morning Kate and William arrived at the hospital. 

Let's compare this royal birth to another royal birth that occurred many years before.  The parents were a couple unknown outside of the little village in which they lived.  In fact, the news of the young girl's pregnancy brought no delight, but scorn and derision, even causing the husband to consider divorcing the one whom he loved.  There was no limousine to take the young mother to a hospital for the delivery of her firstborn.  No, instead the family was forced to take a long journey back to the homeland of the husband - an arduous journey even for someone who was in good physical condition, let alone for one who was nine-months pregnant.  No room with the proper equipment for a delivery greeted them upon their arrival. No, they were allowed to stay in the only place available, a cave where animals had been stabled.  "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

No attending physician.  No medications to help alleviate the pains of childbirth.  No equipment monitoring the vital signs of mother and child.  No one there to wash the newly born child except the hands of the supposed father.  No soft blanket to wrap him in.  No clean bed upon which the child could lay his head.  Yet, this baby born that night was royalty...even greater royalty than the son born to William and Kate this past week.

The birth announcement was not delivered on an easel board, but delivered via an angelic choir to a group of shepherds.  This was the most amazing birth announcement ever delivered - "Fear not, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. ... Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 

Friends, when Jesus came, the world was not awaiting him with bated breath.  There were no journalists there in Bethlehem with stylus in hand waiting to interview the young couple coming from Nazareth.  There were no advance preparations made to ensure that the entrance of the King into this world was filled with everything the young mother would need for a safe delivery.  The world had a fascination for the birth of the heir to the throne of Britain; the world had no fascination for the birth of the Son of God.  Even those who had knowledge that the birth was impending displayed only a ho-hum attitude when news reached them of the child's birth. Information they had...excitement they did not have.

The new-born prince will grow up and someday maybe hailed as King of England.  When he dies, his name will go into the history books and join a long line of other kings who have sat upon England's throne - many of whom have been forgotten, except for those pages of history.  That child born that night in Bethlehem grew into manhood, had no throne upon which he was placed, yet, through his death provided a way that has changed the lives of men and women down through the centuries.  Yes, William and Kate's son might be a king someday, but Jesus Christ is the King.  Oh that the world might get excited over Jesus!