Luke 2:1-24

In the first chapter of Luke, the writer documented two significant events: the miraculous events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist (1:5-25, 57-80) and the revelation of the angel to Mary that she would soon be miraculously giving birth to the promised Savior, Jesus (1:26-56). For more on the angel’s appearance to Joseph, Mary’s fiance, see Matthew 1:18-25. At the beginning of the second chapter of Luke, he describes the events preceding Jesus’ birth: “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city” (2:1-3). Every fourteen years, this census would take place and according to Roman law each family had to return to their place of origin. Since Joseph’s ancestral home was located in Bethlehem, he and Mary made this seventy mile journey from Galilee to Bethlehem through a very mountainous region (2:4-5).

While in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2), Mary gave birth to “her firstborn Son and, wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (2:6-7). Luke would later write in his gospel that this Son born to Mary and fathered by the Holy Spirit had “come to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Following the birth of Jesus the angels announced his birth to some shepherds who were watching their flocks, “…an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger’” (2:9-12).

When the angels departed from the presence of the shepherds, the men went to visit this child, Jesus, and “found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger” (2:15-16). After seeing the Baby, the shepherds “made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (2:17-18). Mary also pondered the events which had transpired and was amazed that God would allow her to be the mother of the promised Messiah (2:19). “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (2:20).

After eight days, the Child was circumcised according to Jewish custom and He was named, Jesus, which was “the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (2:21). Mary was ceremonially unclean for forty days following the birth of Jesus (according to the law of Moses), but following this time Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in order to dedicate Him to God as their firstborn (2:22-24). What an amazing thought that Jesus was dedicated for the purpose of being used by His own Father, ultimately to become the perfect sacrifice for sins of mankind. Although Jesus’ birth was a celebration of new life for Mary and Joseph, His birth is also a celebration of His eventual death by which those who believe will be given life.

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to earth so that in life He could be our example and in death He could be our Savior.