Luke 2:1-14
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[a] 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.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Who wouldn’t love to sit down with Joseph and Mary to ask them a hundred questions about the experience of bringing the Christ-child into this world? Even with as much information as we are given, there are so many unanswered questions. Isn’t that true with almost every birth? Even today, with the gender-reveal parties and endless selfies and social media posts, there are some things that can only be experienced and not necessarily shared. The birth of a child is the perfect expression of the wonder of Advent.
Of course, Jesus was not just any child. He was the answer to generations of prayer and searching for God’s answer to address the painful turn of events that sin brought into the world. A birth that brought about new birth for a dying world.
If I can’t sit down with Joseph and Mary, what about those shepherds? They have a story to tell! Angels burst forth from the heavens with the best news the world has ever heard!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
This is God’s message to the ordinary person. In our most desperate moments, we hear that peace comes from our glorious God. It begins with the birth of a child. It continues with the new birth we experience as we follow Jesus.
Birth is a new beginning. May we be renewed and filled with joy as we experience the birth of Jesus anew in our hearts every day.
Questions for Contemplation
1. Mary, Joseph, the Innkeeper, the Shepherds, the Angels - who would you most like to speak with, and what would you ask them?
2. Consider what you can do to be reminded of the beauty and promise of the birth of Christ throughout the year and not just at Christmas.
Prayer
God, with the angels, we rejoice and praise you for the birth of Jesus. What a glorious moment in the history of your world. In your knowledge, wisdom, and providence, you brought about the most wonderful plan to save the world. Thank you that it involved a baby, a human life, something with which we can identify. Thank you for knowing us so well, and giving us the new birth that gives us all a chance to begin again. Amen.
I recently wrote three brief thoughts for an Advent devotional that is connected to a Facebook page. There’s also a link to a .pdf document of the entire series if you’d like to have it. This is the third of the three. I hope they were a blessing to you. Thank you for reading, liking, and sharing.
LINK to the first in this series of three.
LINK to the Advent Photo-A-Day Devotional Facebook page.
LINK to the 32 page .pdf file including all devotionals and photos.
If you liked this devotional, you may be interested in my other Substack newsletter called Sermons From Forsythe - sermons, class notes, and articles from Forsythe Church of Christ, mostly written by me.
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Your comments are welcomed and always read with interest. Have a Merry Christmas and let’s get started on a fantastic New Year!
Oddly enough, I’d love to talk to Joseph. I think he had the toughest decision to go through with the marriage. Next, I’d like to ask God--was Mary the first one he asked to bear Jesus?
Merry Christmas!