Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 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.
The Shepards and the Angels
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
This story is probably common for most of you. It's told in family traditions, in Christmas Eve services, and Sunday school lessons this time of year. But do we really take time to realize the significance of this commonly told story? It's not just a simple story of a typical, average, everyday birth of a baby.
In fact, the song 'Mary, Did You Know' paints a pretty good picture of what this story is really all about. This was the King of Kings, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, Jehovah, God's one and only son, sent to save us. To defeat death so it could no longer have it's grip on us. To show us examples of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love.
This Christmas, as you gather with family around the tree or dinner table, as you open presents, and laugh and sing and play, remember this; Christmas isn't about the presents, the food, no matter how good they might be. It's all about the baby in the manager. He was sent to Earth, to endure so much pain, to give us the greatest present of all. To live with him forever and ever in Heaven if we only believe in him. I don't know about anyone else, but that beats whatever might be under my tree on December 25th.
