Luke 2:1-7 – And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The birth of Jesus Christ was like no other before or after Him. Let’s think for a moment about the shocking events surrounding His birth. First, He was born among farm animals in an animal’s feeding trough, who could think of such a plan for the Creator of all things to enter into the world? Next we discover that He was born of a virgin, who could believe a story like this?! Then we see that this One who would be known as the Messiah was rejected by His own people, there was literally no place available for Him at His birth; as the story goes “there was no room for Him at the Inn”.
Next we are introduced to a company of angels announcing His birth to a group of shepherds just outside of Bethlehem. The angels proclaimed a message of good news of great joy, “today in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord has been born”.
Think of the implications of this announcement, the Savior of the world is born, He is born in the City of David, He is the Lord of all the earth, and the angels also proclaimed that this would be a message of great joy.
His birth was not announced to the leaders of Israel or to the king but this announcement was made to shepherds. What was the shepherds’ response? They told everyone who would listen to them about this supernatural birth and of course they went to the manger and worshipped Him. These events have literally changed the world, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in Bethlehem and the world has never been the same.
