BY RAUFU SPAGNOLETTA
Scripture Lesson Text: Luke 2:1-18
Related Scriptures: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:26-35; Matthew 1:18-25
Our lesson captures the night Mary gave birth to the Saviour, Christ the Lord, in Bethlehem, the city of David. The prophets foretold of the coming Messiah in: Isaiah 7:14, “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and His Name shall be called Emmanuel, God with us”; Isaiah 9:6 ,”For unto us a child is born: Unto us a Son is given “; and Micah 5:2, “Out of Bethlehem shall come forth the ‘Ruler of Israel’ “.
Luke, the historian, gives us an eyewitness account of the angel Gabriel’s visitation to the virgin Mary: “And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS.” (Luke 1:26-35).
Matthew records, “The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, thou Son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-25).
A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed and all went to the town of his birth to register. Joseph and his exposed wife, Mary, being great with child went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:).
And so it was, while they were there, Mary delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. That night, in the same country, there were shepherds in the field watching over their flock, the Angel of the Lord, in radiant glory, came upon them and announced the birth of Christ (Vss.10-11); gave them a sign to find the babe (vs. 11); and in that moment the multitude of the heavenly host joined the Angel in praising God (vss. 13-14).
When the angels departed, the shepherds moved with haste to go to Bethlehem to see what the Lord had made known to them, and they found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
The decree from Caesar Augustus fulfilled the plan of God. Our God is sovereign and when we love Him, He causes all things to work together for our good, even stumbling blocks become stepping stones toward our destiny in Him. And unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour ! God is no respector of person, and He has come in the Person of His Son to offer the least, the lost and the forgotten an eternal relationship with Him.
And ye shall find the child…When God makes His Presence known, He is offering us an opportunity to come to Jesus in faith and experience His love in a life changing encounter.
