THE RECORD OF CHRIST’S BIRTH (LUKE 2:1-20)

The only time that the shepherds did this was when it was warm enough. In the winter months they would take the herds out during the day and then bring them back in at night and put them in a pen. Therefore , the birth of Jesus could not have been on December 25th but earlier in the year when the shepherds were still letting the sheep stay in the fields over night.
Did you ever wonder why God chose shepherds? Of all the people that God could have Chosen why did He choose these shepherds? It is because they chose God! They were humble enough to BELIEVE that there was a messiah coming. No governor, no ruler, no religious leader was told because they didn’t believe.

THE RECORD OF CHRIST’S BIRTH (LUKE 2:1-20)
2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
The tax or taxing was an enrollment or a census.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed (enrolled), every one into his own city.
“his own city” means the city that his family is from. It was the city of the family origin.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed (enrolled) with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 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.
The term “first born” indicated that there were others that followed. Jesus Christ had half brothers and half sisters.
No room for them at the inn? It was God’s only begotten son! The savior of the World and they had no room for him. Nobody knew he was coming they were as ignorant of the truth of Christ’s first coming as they are of his second coming.
Matthew 13: 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
The only time that the shepherds did this was when it was warm enough. In the winter months they would take the herds out during the day and then bring them back in at night and put them in a pen. Therefore , the birth of Jesus could not have been on December 25th but earlier in the year when the shepherds were still letting the sheep stay in the fields over night.
Did you ever wonder why God chose shepherds? Of all the people that God could have Chosen why did He choose these shepherds? It is because they chose God! They were humble enough to BELIEVE that there was a messiah coming. No governor, no ruler, no religious leader was told because they didn’t believe.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
The angel was Gabriel the messenger angel. The “glory of the Lord” was the Shekinah Glory of God. It was a brilliant light.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Jesus Christ was and is to all people but not all will or have believed him nor accepted him.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
There are two things that are done to a new born that was to rule, he would be swaddled and he would be salted. Salted is when salt is put on the baby or a solution of salt and water was put on the baby. When a baby is swaddled the parents take strips of cloth and bind the baby much like a mummy. This process would straighten out the baby. The maximun time alotted for this was five minutes.
Being salted meant that the child’s words would be true and honest. Being swaddled means that the babe would walk upright in all of his dealings.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Angels don’t sing only Saints sing. Angels speak, we can sing.
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
They cam ewith haste! We should do the same. If God tell’s us something then we should move with all haste! If they hadn’t moved they would never have seen the Christ child in swaddling clohes.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
I sure would rejoice, too, wouldn’t you? Even though we weren’t there we can still rejoice because we have so much more promised to and given to us by God than what the Jews have We have such a great opportunity to know the Word of God and to know His son that everyone should be rejoicing because Christ was born (came the first time), he made a way where anyone wanting and willing to get deliverance from the One True God could get it and he is seated in the heavenlies waiting for the appointed time to return for his brothers and sisters. We are going to heaven and nothing can stop us from going.
This is not the time of year of our Lord and Savior’s birth but any time of year is a good time to remember what God and His son Jesus Christ did for us.