Celebrate the Birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ

Meditate. How do you celebrate birthdays?

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes,  the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Luke 2:8-20

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Let’s go to Bethlehem…and there was the baby, lying in the manger. That is my Savior who was born in a stable…in a manger. Seems like an unlikely place for a king…the King of kings and Lord of lords to be born—in such a humble place. Animals—of the barnyard. Cows, donkeys, sheep, doves, and then the camels came later. Could it be that the animals were praising the new little Lord, too? His mother, Mary, and His stepfather, Joseph, must have been exhausted from their long trip from Nazareth, and then the birth of Jesus. They must have been in awe. Here was the baby through whom the angels had promised that God would bless the world. Shepherds came to the stable and believed because it was just as the angel had told them. They believed because they saw Him. Can you believe without seeing Him in person?

God had a plan…that began even before it was revealed in the Garden of Eden…and now was beginning to be fulfilled in Bethlehem. Salvation was the goal. Jesus, the baby, would grow into a man who would die on a cross—just as God had prophesied—for the sins of all mankind. Glory to God in the Highest. Celebrate the Birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer ~ Thank You, Jesus, for being obedient in Your part in God’s plan. A little baby born in a crude and humble stable…and then dying on a crude and wicked cross. Salvation to those who believe. Glory to God in the Highest. You are an awesome God…and You are my God, my Savior, and my Lord. I praise You—on Your birthday…and every day.

Verse of Salvation ~ In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!" Isaiah 25:9

 

Bible Trivia Answer to the Question: What does mean to swaddle a baby as Mary did?

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:6-7 

Even today, babies are wrapped tightly in receiving blankets—swaddled—to keep them warm, snug and help them transition from the womb to the real world. Being wrapped snuggly is security and a sign of love—for babies now—and for Jesus when He was born.

Tradition has it that the shepherds tending the perfect, unblemished new lambs of the flocks that were destined to become sacrifices at the Temple  wrapped  the newborn lambs in swaddling cloths. These little lambs were laid in a food trough…a manger…to keep them safe and secure.

Bible Trivia Question for next week: Who is the King of kings and Lord of lord?

© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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