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In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
While they (Mary and Joseph) were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:6-18
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
To truly capture the amazing nature of Christmas, we have to stay connected to the Word of God.
In Luke Chapter 2, we’re reminded that the God of the universe…of heaven and earth…of all creation…the omnipotent Lord of Lords and King of Kings came into this world with no fanfare but rather humbly in the most fragile human way possible: in the form of a baby. And He wasn’t born in some high-tech clinic with all the best natal care possible. No, because there was no other place for Him to be born, He entered the world in a lowly Bethlehem stable and was placed in a manger, wrapped in cloths and surrounded by His chosen parents, Mary and Joseph, humble people in their own rights who now were experiencing the words of the angel Gabriel come to life.
Meanwhile, there were other humble, lowly people about to have a miraculous experience. For “there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” They were doing what they do day in and day out, night in and night out. But this was no ordinary night.
For “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Imagine the shock and surprise of this! The shepherds, not sure what to make of it all, “were terrified.” But the angel put them at ease saying, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
And as if this wasn’t incredible enough, “suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
And then, the angels left, returning to the heavens and leaving the shepherds in the amazing wake of their sudden appearance.
It didn’t seem to take long for the shepherds to decide what to do for we read where they said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” And so they did. “They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” and “when they had seen him”, they didn’t just let it end there at the manger. No, the shepherds were so amazed by what they had experienced that they couldn’t keep the news to themselves. Instead, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child”, shared their experiences, and as a result, left “all who heard it…amazed.”
I’m not sure what you are up against this Christmas day? Maybe you’re suffering from employment, financial or relationship hardship. Maybe you are lost, confused, or alone. Maybe the joy of Christmas doesn’t seem present this year.
If so, will you receive the words of the angel as the shepherds did?
The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
That same angel that spoke to the lowly, humble shepherds is speaking to us, the lowly, humble servants of God, today.
Can you hear the angel speaking? “Do not be afraid. Christ has come to bring hope and love and life everlasting.”
Friends, Jesus has come and the world was, is and will ever be changed forever. My prayer is that He will be reborn in your heart today…and may you not keep the good news of His coming to yourself but take it to all you see in the coming year. Like the shepherds, let us spread the word concerning Jesus. I guarantee that when we do it under the guide of the Holy Spirit, all we tell about Him will end up amazed…and hopefully on their way to salvation.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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