1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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. – Note that some people accept that Quirinius was Governor of Syria twice, once while Herod the Great was alive. Publius Sulpicius Quirinius (or Cyrenius in the Greek) was a well-known Roman official who lived ca. 51 BC – AD 21.
Comment: I have delivered babies in several African countries and in Australia. I am not an Obstetrician and I haven’t kept a record of them but probably a thousand or so. I have done normal deliveries, forceps deliveries (low and high), Caesarean Sections, Ruptured uteri, destructive procedures. Most ‘normal’ deliveries and simple forceps were done by the nurses. I have never written up a delivery in such a few words! I’ve never read a report of a comparably important baby, reported in so few words. I have never ever in books, in newspapers, or even heard talked about the birth of such an important Person as this! I have rarely delivered babies in mud huts but, even then, what I was told afterwards would have taken up more space, if it had been written down, than this does! Of course you don’t get except in very private conversations a ‘ball by ball’ description of a delivery but usually you do get some description of what the child looks like, its size, how long or easy the labour was etc. Jesus was a first baby; Mary was almost certainly a teenager; they were away from ‘home’, although they probably had ‘relatives’ in the area. Did God make it easy for her? The event is described in the most important book in the world as follows “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.” —- Selah – think on that!
8 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,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Comment: But the angels could not contain themselves! And the shepherds not only heard but listened and ‘made haste’ and told the glorious story of the choir and the message. Not only did they hear, and listen but they understood and acted!
Rev 5: 12-13 – “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Prayer: My heart rejoices at the angels’ message and I sing gladly the angel song, my Lord, for You are truly worthy!
May you have a blessed Christmas and New Year!
As I read it! 