God of power and might, we praise You for all You have done, are doing, and will do in our lives and in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus our Lord we pray, amen.
Luke's story about Jesus' birth is found in these verses from Luke 2: 1 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 his 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 room for them in the inn.
In chapter one of his gospel Luke shares the foretelling that came before Mary became pregnant and in chapter two shares the above account. Please keep in mind that Luke is a Gentile, a physician, well-trained and educated, who wants the whole world to know of Jesus and His universal appeal to all humanity. He shows what God did and what was shared with him from interviews and visits with eyewitnesses. The Roman government had a census and Joseph and Mary complied with going to Bethlehem to be counted and while there the baby was born. She gave birth in a stable because all the inns were filled with census complying persons. Luke then shares how shepherds were told of this birth by angels and they witnessed a heavenly choir singing God's praises, so they go and see for themselves all this that God had done on their behalf. Notice that shepherds are the most common of workers in those days. Everyone could say as most of us used to in this country about those raised on a farm or ranch, "I was a shepherd or my dad or uncle or grandpa was a shepherd!" And God used them to be the first witnesses of this universal saving act. Read here: 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 of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ 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, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke shares what this event was all about: "good news of great joy...a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." The fulfillment of that which the Jews and all humanity had awaited for so many years is fulfilled in this humble birth to a poor young woman and her scared husband, in this humble town, to save the world from their sins. It's still a universal message about what God did for us. If you read The Upper Room, the daily devotional from the UMC (www.upperroom.org/devotional) you read how a dying man in Japan is praising God for strength during the last days of his life. Tell me he hasn't experienced "good news of great joy" in knowing his Savior. Do you know Him?
PRAYER: Father, Your message has reached so many from those outside of Bethlehem on that night to those in Japan, and right here in front of this computer screen; may this special time truly be a time when we recognize what you did to share with us "good news of great joy" in bring us our Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
