In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, 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 them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that 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.
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.
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The birth of a Savior. The shepherds were so excited they spread the word to everyone they saw. The people were amazed at what they were told. But then there’s Mary…who pondered these things as she stored them up in her heart. Could it be that Mary had studied the law during her pregnancy? Could it be that she realized that the way in which Jesus would become Savior was through a sacrifice? Could it be that everyone else was selfishly thinking of being save me from Roman rule, Mary realized it was sin that they needed saving from…including herself? Today, remember that this is not just a story. This is the reality of your’s and my sin. The Savior was born…to save us from our wrongdoing. He deserves out praise…and part of our praise is turning away from sin. Remember your life was bought with a price. It’s time for some of us to repent and shift focus back to God. Don’t take this time for granted. Use it to get right with God.
A Journey With Jesus 