Luke 2:1-21 — Christmas in… November?

READ THIS: Luke 2:1-21

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 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.” 

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. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Jesus is here!!! These verses cover a story that many of us are familiar with: the Christmas story! Every year, we celebrate that Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, came into the world as a baby. This story can easily be overlooked, and I wouldn’t blame you if you kinda skimmed through these verses today because you’ve read them or heard them so often before, but there’s some really cool things in here we simply can’t overlook!

For starters, let’s talk about how a TON of what we read was prophesied about hundreds of years beforehand! Micah 5:2 says that Bethlehem would be the home of the ruler of all of Israel. This census given by Caesar Augustus, which could seem like an inconvenience to Joseph and Mary, ends up being a part of God’s plan that was set in place hundreds of years before since it allows Jesus to be born where God said He would be. Another prophecy in Isaiah 11 talks all about how Jesus would come from the line and David and Jesse, and both Mary and Joseph come from that same family line! While it seems that so much of Jesus’s birth is chaotic and unplanned, God carefully planned every single aspect of Jesus’s coming into the world. This reminds us that even in our own lives (which can certainly feel chaotic), God is working and in control!

Another awesome thing about this passage is how much worship (and different ways to worship) we see in it! We see the angels giving praise to God in a familiar way: worshipping God in song. We see the shepherds who see Jesus giving God worship through their amazement, sharing the good news to others, and audible praise as well. Lastly, we see Mary give God praise by treasuring everything that God has done and is doing around her in her heart. This is an important reminder to us that worship has many different forms, but real worship comes from a heart of gratitude for what God is doing.

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Is there an area of your life right now that feels chaotic? What do you think God could be doing in that part of your life right now?

2. What can you give God praise for today? How can you give Him praise?

TRY THIS:

Take some time now to praise God for whatever you thought of in question #2! Praise God however you feel like you can right now, whether its through prayer, reflection, audible praise, or something else!