Joel M Bradshaw

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 

Luke obviously did his homework. The Christmas story actually happened and was linked to actual history. The names would have been some of the most grumbled about in this ‘armpit’ of the Roman Empire.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Joseph had family drama. He obviously had family gathered in Bethlehem and nobody would let his very pregnant fiancee have a room? We read that there was no room. In reality, they made no room for Joseph and his scandal.

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

In a world without light shows or television, this would have been the most dazzling, majestic display of visual and audio brilliance ever.

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Smelly outcast shepherds were the first missionaries directing people to Jesus. If God used them, he certainly can and will use you! If all this was propaganda, shepherds would be one of the last groups to feature.

21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.–Luke 2

They named him a variation of Joshua. This was the name intrinsically linked to the salvation provided by Yahweh. Every time you mention the name Jesus, the word ‘salvation’ should come to mind.

Merry Christmas!–JMB