The Birth of Christ


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. Luke 2:16-20

All the main players witnessed the birth and the first few days of His life. God allowed shepherds and foreign wise men to witness all of this.

I’ve always been intrigued about the shepherds. I don’t believe they were highly esteemed but it was certainly a meaningful job. They too would carry the news across the land, but who would listen? They were mere kids probably. Mary and Joseph weren’t much older than they were. Those two would have the task of raising the child without letting people in on their secret. Nobody would believe them anyhow.

So we find ourselves needing to believe shepherd boys about what they saw. Would they be written off as mere boyish talk?

The birth of Christ is all about the meek and the lowly. Shepherds, young Mary, a bit older Joseph, foreign travelers, cattle, sheep, manger. The boy Himself was sent on a humble mission to earth.

Today as you exchange gifts, eat plenty of food, and share Christmas stories, remember this lowly babe in an animal trough. Palaces and sanitary conditions were not good enough for the Son of God.

Remember also that God uses the humble and lowly of this world, the people we might very well right off as insignificant or low in the socio-economic scale. In fact, He has a habit of doing just that.

Merry Christmas!

May the Lord bless and keep you
May He shine His grace upon you
And give you peace this Christmas Day.


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