1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to 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, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Ceasar Augustus reigned from 27 B.C.–A.D. 14 and when Mary was almost due, he decreed that all the [Roman] world should be registered. Each man needed to go to his own town. This was not necessarily the town of birth but the town of their family heritage. Joseph was of the lineage of David so he took Mary with him to Bethlehem. Mary is still referred to as Joseph’s betrothed and is legally pledged to him in marriage. She is pregnant and still a virgin. While they were there (not necessarily as they arrived) Mary went into labour. She gave birth to Jesus, her firstborn but had to wrap Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Close by there were shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks during the night. An unnamed angel of the Lord appeared to them and they were enveloped in the glory of the Lord. They were very afraid but the angel told them not to fear because he had a message of good news and great joy that was for all people. The angel had a personal message for them that a baby, the Saviour, who is Christ the Lord was born that day in [Bethlehem] the City of David. They would find this baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Then a great host of angels appeared praising God.
When the angels left, the shepherds hurried off together to see this wondrous thing the angels had told them about. When they got there, they found things exactly as they had been told. Having seen Jesus, they told many about what they had been told and how they had found the child. Everyone who heard wondered at the events that had unfolded. Mary treasured up these things and meditated on them. The shepherds returned to their stations praising and glorifying God because of what they had heard and seen.
Everyone who was involved in or heard of what had happened responded properly with thoughtfulness and praise. They considered the things God was doing and how they pointed to the Messiah. There is nothing as powerful as a personal testimony. The shepherds told people what they had heard and seen. When we share the gospel our message is more likely to be received if we share our personal experience along with what we have heard.
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Ruth and Naomi: Ruth 1-2