Day 300: Luke 2: 1-21- Increase in Advent Joy

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration whenQuirinius 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.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Meditation
The good news of Christmas is presented on a global stage and intended for global celebration. Renewed joy and praise is God’s gift for those who celebrate God’s Christmas priorities globally.

Luke sets Jesus’ birth on a global stage: The most powerful man in the world, Caesar Augustus, leading the most powerful empire of the world, Rome, commands “all the world” to be registered in census (1). This census puts Mary and Joseph in the very town prophesied in Micah 5:2.

The repeated word “registration” (vs 1, 2, 3, & 5) funnels our focus from the world stage to the fulfilled promise of the newborn child. The birth of Jesus is placed on a global stage to emphasize the redemptive implications of Christ’s birth for the whole world.

The “good news of great joy is for all people” (10), the “Savior” and “Lord” (11) born in Bethlehem was for peace “on earth” (14). Matthew adds to the chorus by recording gentile worshippers, Magi “from the East” (Matthew 2:1), arriving first to bring tribute to the newborn king. Baby Jesus is the promised Messiah, the King of Kings, Creator of the world, the great I AM- Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is ruler of the earth and the good news of His birth is for all the people of the earth.

The shepherds heard the good news and joined the global gala by “glorifying and praising God” (20). Your worship and praise will increase, too, when you expand your understanding of the extent of the focus of Christmas being JOY to the WORLD!

Richly Dwelling
-How is your celebration of Christmas focused on yourself and making your personal world better?

-God’s salvation is in the context of a government over extending the census. How does this backdrop highlight the beauty and power of the gospel announcement to the world?

-How can you practically participate in God’s joy for the world, thereby increasing your own joy this advent season?

Key Verse
10 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."