The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Reflection:
The Romans issued a census to be able to count the number of people in the empire. It was both to know where the people were growing, also to know how much taxes to levy. Since King Herod had been disposed of, Quirinius issued the census as the Syrian governor. So while the worldly powers were trying to control how things were taken care of, god was being born in the form of a man. He would be counted as one more person in the Roman census, but we know that what he would do would effect literally billions of people who came after him.
Luke again ties into that Jesus' parents came in from Nazareth where Jesus grew up to the town of Bethlehem, which means daughter of bread. The promise to David was that there would be a king from his family line forever. And now the King of kings was going to be born in a manger, as there was no room for this future king at the local inn.
And when this baby was born the lowly shepherds were just doing what they do, watching their flocks at night when an angel appeared to them. And his message was that this King would bring good news of great joy for all people. They would find him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
A simple but amazing story. Who could have invented this story as a way for the Son of God the King of kings to come to us. My favorite part was that it was good news of great joy for all people. As we draw near to the season of thanksgiving and Christmas there will be lots of things coming in the guise of Good News of great joy for all people. But when God entered our world in such a humble way with this teenage girl, his fiancé and shepherds it demonstrated that it was Good News of great joy for all people.
What about you? Does this story of Good News of great joy, still bring great joy to you? Sometimes Christians as they get older lose the sense of wonder in what they believe. We reduce Christianity to a bunch of propositions to get out of hell and rules to keep if we want to stay out. Just for tonight let's make sure we remember what the story really is all about. Let's go with the shepherds and find out if it is really true!
Reflection:
The Romans issued a census to be able to count the number of people in the empire. It was both to know where the people were growing, also to know how much taxes to levy. Since King Herod had been disposed of, Quirinius issued the census as the Syrian governor. So while the worldly powers were trying to control how things were taken care of, god was being born in the form of a man. He would be counted as one more person in the Roman census, but we know that what he would do would effect literally billions of people who came after him.
Luke again ties into that Jesus' parents came in from Nazareth where Jesus grew up to the town of Bethlehem, which means daughter of bread. The promise to David was that there would be a king from his family line forever. And now the King of kings was going to be born in a manger, as there was no room for this future king at the local inn.
And when this baby was born the lowly shepherds were just doing what they do, watching their flocks at night when an angel appeared to them. And his message was that this King would bring good news of great joy for all people. They would find him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
A simple but amazing story. Who could have invented this story as a way for the Son of God the King of kings to come to us. My favorite part was that it was good news of great joy for all people. As we draw near to the season of thanksgiving and Christmas there will be lots of things coming in the guise of Good News of great joy for all people. But when God entered our world in such a humble way with this teenage girl, his fiancé and shepherds it demonstrated that it was Good News of great joy for all people.
What about you? Does this story of Good News of great joy, still bring great joy to you? Sometimes Christians as they get older lose the sense of wonder in what they believe. We reduce Christianity to a bunch of propositions to get out of hell and rules to keep if we want to stay out. Just for tonight let's make sure we remember what the story really is all about. Let's go with the shepherds and find out if it is really true!
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