Theme for this month: Jesus in the Four Gospels
Theme for this week: “Jesus in the Gospel of Luke”
December 23, 2021 (Thursday)
Luke tells the story. An angel named Gabriel announced to the parents of John the Baptist that, though they were past child-bearing age, they would become parents of a man who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. The same angel announced to Mary that, though she was a virgin, she would give birth to the Messiah. (Matthew’s gospel tells us that the angel also made the announcement to Joseph, who was engaged to Mary). The infant was to be named, “Jesus,” which in itself was a promise to save people from their sins. The emperor declared that every man must return to his ancestral home to register for taxation, so Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem, where Jesus was to be born, according to the Scriptural prophecy. As Mary and Joseph settled in to temporary quarters in a stable, angels announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds, who made their way to Bethlehem to see the new-born Messiah.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:16-20 NIV).
As the years have rolled by, Christians around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus, and many of them have set up nativity scenes that represent those who might have been present on the night Jesus was born. The standard components: The baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the innkeeper and his wife, the shepherds, the Magi, the angels, and sometimes a donkey and a few goats and/or sheep. This scene may be on a residential lawn, or on the church’s lawn, in a special room in the house, or on a special table, using miniature characters. We Christians believe this is the best symbol of Christmas, because it gets to the heart of the meaning of Christmas. “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
