Christ the Savior is Born!

Luke 2:1-21

Christ Born of Mary

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Circumcision of Jesus

21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus the Christ, our Savior, was born during the census of Caesar Augustus to provide a historical record of His birth.  They went to Bethlehem from Nazareth where Joseph lived because they had to go where the tribe of their lineage was.  They really went there because it was where the Scriptures said Messiah would be born (Micah 5:2); God just used the census rules to arrange them to go there to fulfill the prophecy because it was so written.  They put the Lord of the universe in a feed trough in a stable to demonstrate how God’s Son humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8) to be like we are to endure the suffering of sin without sinning Himself (Acts 8:32, Hebrews 4:15) that He might be our perfect (1 Peter 1:19) sacrificial Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7) Lamb to take away the sin of the world.  The shepherds who were nearby witnessed the glorious event of an angelic messenger telling them of this good news of His entrance into the world to bring joy to those in every nation under heaven.  The message was that the Bethlehem, the city of David, the Savior who is Christ the Lord had been born!  They were given proof by where to find Him and what Jesus would look like there in that manger.  While they were told this good news an angelic chorus echoed through the night sky with praises to God for this work of His, singing , “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”  This praise was to give a proper entrance to God’s grace and mercy in the Messiah who was God among us, Immanuel.  When the angels left them in wonder, they wondered and then wandered quickly into Bethlehem to see what God had done.  They hurried there and found the newborn child with His parents just as it was promised and then went everywhere bearing witness of the good news of God marvelous work.  All who heard their testimony were in awe and wonder as they marveled at the news while the shepherds returned to their flocks to tend to them as before, yet not the same inside as they once had been.  Encountering Jesus Christ changes our lives and perspectives about everything!  Finally, we read of how Jesus fulfilled the law of the old covenant of cleansing and dedication by His circumcision and was officially named Jesus as was given Him by the angelic messenger from God His Father before (Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:31-32) to rule over all as our sovereign Lord.