Reading through Luke 2:1-38, we see both God’s provision as well as his restraint in the events surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Instead of cluing in the elite and powerful, he worked through shepherds and the elderly to confirm Jesus’s destiny to Joseph and Mary. God delights to work with the ordinary to do the extraordinary!

Luke 2:1-5 Mary had learned that her child would not be an ordinary boy, he would sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:30-33). Nevertheless, she had to follow the laws of the land, which included traveling while pregnant to be counted in the census.

Luke 2:6-7 Ancient houses typically had a space for animals on the first floor. A “manger” is a feeding trough. These were not ideal circumstances from a health and sanitation perspective, yet everything went well.

Luke 2:8-12 These shepherds were probably bored watching their flock by night. Seeing an angel and hearing him announce the birth of the Messiah must have been quite the shock!

Luke 2:13-14 I get the impression that the angels were bursting with joy at the baby announcement. Rather than keeping it a secret (Luke 9:20-21), they blasted out the good news that the Messiah had been born.

Luke 2:15-20 After they found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Bethlehem, they recounted what happened, which must have affirmed Joseph and Mary’s confidence that this baby really was who they thought he was.

Luke 2:21-24 Joseph and Mary followed the commandments of the Torah, including circumcising the child on the eighth day (Lev 12:3), offering the sacrifice for purification on the 40th day (Lev 12:6-8), and paying the redemption fee for a firstborn son (Exod 13:13-15; Num 3:47).

Luke 2:25-38 Simeon and Anna confirmed, once again, that this baby was special. He would bring a light to the Gentiles and glory to Israel.

Pastor Sean uses the Bible version NRSVUE