Luke 2:1-21
The Birth of Jesus
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.
John 1:14
Hope Becomes Flesh
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Matthew 1:23
Hope is Born
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Isaiah 7:14
The Lord Will Give a Sign, A Virgin Will Give Birth to a Son
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
It was the holiest of nights ever to happen in the world...It was a night, when the brightest star would shine...It was a night when wise men, knew something special was going to happen...It was a night the promise of the Prophet Isaiah, who had written about so long ago, would finally come to Light...The LORD would give us a sign: A virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son, and we will call Him Immanuel...It was a night when the Word became flesh and Hope would be born...The world would no longer be the same...His birth and conception are, in fact, miraculous...
God had it to earth and He would live among us...The Word became flesh that night...God crossed time and space and came to us...And somehow Baby Jesus is God in the flesh...God would enter our world in a most unique way, yet still being born of His virgin mother Mary...He would be her firstborn Son...The Baby would be humbly born in a manger, and not in a home...His name would Jesus...And we would be called Immanuel, which means God with us...The most sacred and holy relationship between God and man was born that night...And more importantly not only was Hope born that night, Hope is born for us that day...Hope is born on Christmas Day...