In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And 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.
Comment: Think about it. Many babies are born in worse circumstances than this. Many mothers have very difficult times. Many babies die at birth. But did we expect God to let His Son be born in such a place?
I wonder how, if they had had them, a birth certificate would have been filled out. We are given accurately the time – in the reign of Caesar Augustus in the time of Quirinius as Governor at the period of the census take, which Augustus had called. We’re given the address – in a stable or inn in Bethlehem. We’re given the sex – male, a son. We’re given the mother’s name – Mary. We are given his lineage – a Hebrew, of the tribe of Judah, of the lineage of King David. The question of what to put in the line asking ‘father’s name’ comes in the next devotional.
Prayer: Thank You for Your great Christmas gift to estranged mankind.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. I find it interesting to read the word “betrothed” about Mary and Joseph. The Betrothal was of course the period before marriage, which in those days, was a commitment equal to marriage. But they were not yet married, because Joseph had been told by the Angel not to consumate the marriage until after Jesus was born. God bless you.
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