Luke 2:1-52
Jesus is Born
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.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Jesus birth marks the Day that the Messiah arrived in Israel for His people...His birth marks the fulfillment of over three hundred Old Testament prophecies...When Jesus was born the Jewish people were expecting their Messiah to be a military leader, a political leader, or a King or all of these things...And Jesus came at a time when the Roman Empire occupied Israel, so many thought the Messiah would bring them relief from Roman bondage...But what they received was a Savior, as their Messiah...One who would save them from their sins...He came to earth to save each of us of our individual sins...He was little or nothing about military or being political...Jesus was born for our salvation, because we cannot get rid of our sinful nature without His help...
Many people do not believe that Jesus is our Messiah...They did not believe it then...When He was born in a manger that did not help His reputation for being the Messiah...And instead of God sending His angels to Kings and Queens and the other worldly leaders, God would send His angels to shepherds who were living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night...The shepherds would be the first to see and greet the Messiah, and not the Kings and Queens of the world...So the angels went to the nearby fields near Jesus...And an angel of the LORD appeared to the shepherds, 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 the shepherds 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...But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart...The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told...And 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...
And so shepherds would be the ones to spread the word about the Messiah being born, and not the Kings and Queens and other worldly leaders...Shepherds were not high on the society ladders and thus the news of Jesus may have been somewhat muted, instead of coming from the mouths of Kings...But this was all a part of God's Plan and this help shape the early beginnings of the Messiah, and who would believe in Him later and who would not...
And when it came time for the Messiah to have His purification rites as required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the LORD (as it is written in the Law of the LORD, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the LORD: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”...Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout...He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him...It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the LORD’s Messiah...Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts...When the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign LORD, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace...For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a Light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”...The Child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about Him...Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”...There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher...She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four...She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying...Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem...When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the LORD, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth...And the Child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him...
There was very little pomp and circumstance for the Messiah in His early days and early years...He went by almost unnoticed until He began His ministry...Then these things changed for Him...Then around age thirty, the people around Him, both the poor, the rich, the infamous and the famous began to take notice of Him...Roman Leaders and the Jewish Leaders were even paying attention to Him when He started His ministry...This was also part of God's Plan...