The Birth of Jesus
October 26, 2022
Commentary
While God was preparing the world for the coming of the Savior He moved the heart of the Roman emperor to send out an order saying that everyone had to go back to the city from which his people had come in order to be registered (vv. 1-5). There they’d be told how much tax they had to pay. Mary and Joseph made the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem This fulfilled Micah 5:2. After a long journey of some seventy-five miles undertaken by Mary, heavily pregnant, she and Joseph arrived at Bethlehem. When they arrived they found no place to stay except a stable in which to sleep. That night God’s own dear Son was born in the stable and Mary and Joseph wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him on the hay in the manger (vv. 6-7). God made sure that Mary and her baby were kept safe, despite unhygienic conditions around them in the stable.
Bethlehem was a small city surrounded by hillsides with grazing lands where shepherds led their sheep. That night the angel of the Lord appeared to some of the shepherds who were watching their flocks and a great light shone around them. They were afraid as they saw the angel and the glory of the Lord (vv. 8-9). The angel told them not to be afraid because this was to bring great joy to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” The angel told them the way they’d know Christ the Lord was that he would be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger (vv. 10-12). Then it seemed the entire Heaven was filled with angels saying,"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men (vv. 13-14).”
Application
God appeared to Zacharias, to Mary and now to the shepherds when they were just doing their jobs and being themselves. How has God spoken to me in the past and how have I answered Him?
Luke 2:1– 14 (NET)
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. 2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”