It’s Christmastime. The music changes. Suddenly Jesus’s name is heard in Department Stores, and it’s acceptable. Christmas Carols, children’s voices, the sound of music is everywhere.
Today, I pull out an ol’ gospel spiritual Mary Had a Baby, Yes, Lord.
Little ones light up singing this tune.
You might remember the song. It has a sweet, childlike simplicity, yet it births some deep, important thoughts for the soul:
Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes Lord,
People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.
There’s a natural flow to the words even if the true melody is unknown.
There was a lot going on then. And there’s a lot going on now. This story isn’t only about the past, this story is about today, this very moment. This story is for now.
Mary had a baby, yes, Lord.
This is a good excuse to open up the Scripture’s pages and read the story stright from the Bible:
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up . . . out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to . . . Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, Luke 2: 1,4.
A lot of people began coming to town. And the song brings it all to mind, the atmosphere of that place and time.
The people keep a comin, . . .
There’s traveling here and there, for everyone. Days are busy. We, like they, are occupied with important things. We’re counting on many things.
Does this song bring about urgency?
What’s all this about the train done gone?
Is there a train we might miss?
The kids sing:
What did she name Him? Yes Lord?
What did she name Him, yes my Lord,
What did she name Him, Yes, Lord, . . .
There must be something about that name.
And the Bible let’s us know that God gave a title along with a name. There’s something special about this Baby of Mary:
A virgin shall be with Child and they shall call His name, Immanuel (Matthew 1:23).
Immanuel, God . . . with . . . us.
There’s so much to do, no time to be still, so, . . .
The people keep-a-coming, and the train done gone.
Have I missed something? Do I even realize something’s missing? Do we miss the Everything?
God’s Word tells the story in Luke 2, famously:
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord . . .
What did she name Him? Yes, my Lord . . .
‘She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord,
Named Him King Jesus, Yes, my Lord.
Wrapped him in swaddlin’, Yes Lord.
the people keep a coming but the train done gone.”
Wrapped in rags? A King wrapped in poor ol’ rags. “No room in the Inn, but you can have the barn?”
What’s going on in this ol’ gospel song?
A cold, smelly cave where the animals all stay? Is this the story that we read every year.
God has come down to be with us, the Immanuel has come down. But who even knows?
Is this a picture of my very own heart? Am I going to miss what’s most important? Concerned about the gifts I’m going to give, or not able to give? Am I allowing other expectations fill my mind?
Is the train done gone?
Not if I can make the choice, each new day, even, moment by moment at times.
Though the terrain be rough, (as it was for Mary and Joseph), though there’s no room in the traditional sense, no Inn, or culturally acceptable dwelling places, . . .
perhaps the barn door, smelly and raw, of a broken spirit toward God, and a heartfelt prayer, “Lord, I’m desperate for You. Change me that I might overcome every trial as You did, and have grace and mercy as a gift to give.”
This Babe left all His glory of heaven to be born in a barn . . . for me, for every person in the whole entire world to be Savior, our Forgiver, our Redeemer.
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord. The glory train is here now. Can I see it?
What’s my choice?
I’m getting on. And again, each new morning.
It’s my choice to choose Love before the opportunity’s gone, but I can’t do it alone.
What should we do? I will take His hand and trust He’ll help me make the step.
The Scripture says,
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold,
an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid, Luke 2:8.
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
“Take my hand. Don’t be afraid. Trust Me. I am enough.”
My mail might not bring good news. The doctor’s report might not have good news, but Jesus, He has brought news of great joy for me, and all people of the world.
Jesus is bread. Jesus is light. Jesus is my Good Shepherd, my living water, the bright and morning star. Jesus is my peace, your peace, the Prince of Peace.
He has broken down every wall. He is our everything.
I must turn aside, from the mainstream flow of traffic, and step right up. And with each new day, never let this train pass me by.
“She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord!”
She named Him King Jesus,
“Yes my Lord.”
I choose to make Him King. Let’s get on that train, step by step, minute by minute.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him . . .
should not perish . . .
but have everlasting life, John 3:16.