Psalm 23:3b NKJV — He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
The path which led Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem was only a portion of the path which would lead to the cross.
God had proclaimed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 NKJV — “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
Although, Joseph and Mary were from Galilee.
Luke 2:4 NKJV — Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Jesus also lived in Egypt. (Matt. 2:13)
Then later, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus moved to Nazareth.
Matthew 2:23 NKJV — And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
As an adult Jesus traveled.
Matthew 4:13-15 NKJV — And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:Matthew 4:15 NKJV — “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
From before His birth His life’s path followed the Scriptures, and we know it is all for His name’s sake.
Psalm 79:9 NKJV — Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name’s sake!
Only by His name are we saved.
Acts 2:21 KJV — And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Psalm 106:8 KJV — Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known.
Our Nativity drawing today is a donkey.
To remind us of the path of righteousness Jesus traveled His whole life.
The Bible doesn’t say Mary rode on a donkey to Bethlehem. However, it does say Jesus rode on one to Jerusalem, for the moment in history when He would be sacrificed for the sins of mankind.
Matthew 21:7 NKJV — They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
Jesus’s life was the path of righteousness and His life can cleanse ours.
While adding a donkey to the Nativity, realize the incredible truth of what He did for His name’s sake.
Psalm 25:10-11NKJV — All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
patientlyhopeful 