S = And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn

Luke 2:6–7 CSB

O – Commentary;

By the early second century a.d. even pagans in the area were reportedly widely aware of the tradition that Jesus was born in a cave used as a livestock shelter behind someone’s home, and they reported the site of this cave to the emperor Hadrian. (The story could have been adapted to fit a few *Gentile stories about deities born in caves, but its earliness lends some weight to its reliability.) The manger was a feeding trough for animals; sometimes these may have been built into the floor. The word traditionally translated “inn” probably means something more like “home” or “guest room”; whether because other relatives may have also been returning home for the census or for other reasons, it is easier for Mary to bear (or care for the child after birth) in the vacant cave outside.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 185.

A – Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfilled the Micah’s prophecy. Even though that was “expected,” few things in Jesus’ birth met expectations.  One would expect a coming “King” to be born in a palace, surrounded by the best people and help.  Jesus’ birth goes against expectations from the beginning.  We need to make sure our expectations align with him and not others or circumstances.

R- Heavenly Father, you are the Messiah.  Thank you for Jesus coming to earth.  Help us to align our expectations with you and your character more than things we see or desire.  There are things that go against our understand and believe – help us with that today.