Today in the Town of David
a Savior has Been Born to You!
A. The real reason why Joseph and Mary needed to go to Bethlehem
1) God's plan was greater than the emperor's plans (1-7)
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (1-7)
2) The shepherds were first to hear the news (8-13)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, (8-13)
B. How should we accept God's message?
1) Learning from Mary (19)
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (19)
2) Learning from the shepherds (14-18, 20)
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (14-18)
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (20)
Summary
Jesus' birth was not a sudden, unexpected event. It was prophesied from the time of the Old Testament. Mary and Joseph learned the news through an angel that appeared to Mary. The shepherds and the wise men from the east also learned about Jesus' birth through an angel. Just as these people were able to embrace God's plan that exceeds human imagination, so too, can we accept it even though we can't wrap our minds around it. Jesus is our savior and the one true God whom we can trust.
For Discussion
1) Why did Joseph and Mary need to leave their own town to go to Bethlehem?
2) How did Mary "treasure up all these things and ponder them in her heart”?