Luke 2:1-16 (Contemporary English Version)
About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family.
Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, and while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.
That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay."
Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:
"Praise God in heaven!
Peace on earth to everyone
who pleases God."
After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about." They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.
v. 9: All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened.
These shepherds received a pretty spectacular message. And they acted on it. Immediately.
v. 15b-16a: Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about. They hurried off...
The shepherds:
- were overwhelmed by the amazing message from God.
- immediately went to Jesus
- told other people about God’s message.
This would not have happened unless their hearts were already soft and turned heaven-ward, and if they were not simple and childlike in their faith toward God. Lord, I try to over-think things and am double-minded toward so many things. How can I develop a childlike trust toward the Lord?
v. 20: As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.
I want to make that my attitude, too, because I have heard and seen so much, really, every day, which brings glory to God.
And then the Scriptures mention two prophets:
Simeon. He was righteous, devout, and looking forward to the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit rested on him.
Anna. She was a prophetess who never left the Temple. She worshipped day and night. With prayer and fasting.
These are the characteristics of people who love God deeply.
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