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.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,(ESV) “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Comment: One of my very favourite carols written by Charles Wesley has as the first verse ‘Let earth and Heaven combine,
Angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine
The incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span,
Incomprehensibly made man.‘
I’m not surprised that the family couldn’t find space in an inn! David was born there and oodles of people would have needed to return there for the census. But how amazing that God, who could have arranged anything, allowed his Son to be born in a stable and laid in a manger! As someone has written one of the most famous ‘King-sized beds!
Do you feel like worshipping with those shepherds? I do! So let us not waste the opportunity!
Prayer: Thank You, Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son!
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. Let me share with you some comments I read a few months ago which were written in a Devotional message from The Canberra Declaration Ministry by someone whose name I don’t remember. The message was based on Luke 2:9-15. Quote: “When the Passover Lamb was prepared for sacrifice, the High Priest would lay the lamb in a manger, and inspect it to make sure it was without blemish. If it passed inspection, the lamb would be wrapped in swaddling cloths so it couldn’t injure itself. It was then transported to the Temple to be sacrificed to atone for sins. What an incredible connection to how Jesus came into the world to be our sacrificial lamb.” (End of quote). V. 12 says “This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” I truly believe now that this “sign” was given to the shepherds because they would have been very familiar with the ritual of inspecting the lambs to be sacrificed, to make sure they were spotless, and wrapping them in swaddling cloths and lying them in the manger. I have always wondered what the “sign” was, and now I understand it. God bless you.
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I have never heard that before! But as you say ‘wonderful’. Trust that your Christmas was a great celebration, as was ours!
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