Characters at the Cradle: The Birth of Jesus, Mary Treasured and Pondered

by David Chadwick

Did you know Jesus is alive? Not just in the Christmas story, but today and forevermore!

As we continue to study the birth of Jesus, the most compelling reality of the Christmas story is that the same wonder and glory that came with his birth is still available to us today. His birth unlocked an eternal promise. Jesus’s birth impacted all of history and all of eternity.

The first coming of Jesus was a foretaste of his second coming. As we read Luke 2:1-21, we should swell with anticipation in our hearts for our soon and coming King!

Today, we are going to look at Luke 2:15-20 where the angels ascended to heaven and the shepherds set out to find the manger. Verse 16 says that the shepherds went “with haste” to find the couple and the baby. Haste. What a powerful word; meaning excessive speed, urgency, hurry. They knew they had been given a very important assignment and they acted swiftly!

I love to presume all that might have happened along the way with the shepherds. Did they have to ask around to find the manger? Do you think they found the innkeeper and asked if he knew of a couple giving birth in a manger? Was this one of only a few mangers in Bethlehem, making it relatively easy to find? Maybe the only manger? Although Luke, once again, left some of these details missing, he was detail-oriented enough to show us the most important thing–that with very little information, these shepherds found Jesus.

When they saw the baby, they remembered the angel’s words. Everything was just as they had told him it would be. After all, angels can’t lie! The shepherds went on to tell Mary and Joseph all that had just happened. The appearance of the angel. The message of how to find them. The angelic choir proclaiming the glory of God. The shepherds returned to their fields praising God. They saw and heard exactly as they had been told by the angel. Their lives would never be the same!

Don’t you know Mary and Joseph must have added this info to their own list of angelic appearances, to the many stories they were already collecting, and to the promises that had been made to them through the birth of their son? This was prophetic fulfillment happening before their very eyes. From that day forward, they surely had a lot to talk about in their newly married lives.

After the birth of her son and subsequent events, what did Mary do? The Bible says that “she treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Do you think she ever shared all of the intricacies with Jesus? Or directly to Dr. Luke? She clearly told someone. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have this account today.

Not only did Mary treasure and ponder, but she also shared it. Because when you know something is life-changing, you can’t help but share it! It changed Mary personally, but it changed everyone around her. And even more, it’s changed all of us today! Praise be to God for this good and Godly woman.

Characters at the Cradle: The Birth of Jesus, Glory to God in the Highest

by David Chadwick

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be registered for taxes. While there, Jesus was born in a smelly manger instead of a nice inn. The God of all creation chose to enter the world in the most humble of states. Jesus is the main character at the cradle. His birth was the catalyst to draw every other character to the cradle.

So what happens next in the story? Let’s look at Luke 2:8-14 to see who were the first characters at the cradle following Jesus’s birth.

Verse 8 says that the shepherds were “out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Suddenly, an angel appeared to them. Like we see in many biblical accounts, when an angel would show up, the shepherds were filled with great fear as God’s glory shone around them. Do you remember how Zechariah and Mary responded? They were afraid. But this fear is different from sinful fears. Think more of an awe and reverence as sinful humans stand before holy angels.

The angel said to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The angel’s message, one of enormous joy, would both change their lives forever and touch all of humanity for all of time.

The angel went on to tell the shepherds where they would find this baby, “wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” This is all the detail Luke included. Somehow, some way, the simplicity of that statement would take the shepherds straight to the Christ child. Could it be that God chose the most radically humble of locations to be the very way that people would find the King of kings?

Following the angel’s message, astoundingly, a mass heavenly angelic choir appeared, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

While the Bible clearly says that the angels were “saying” this, I can’t help but hear it put to music every time I read these words! Whenever I hear Christmas songs that say, “Glory to God,” I immediately think of this verse. I picture a multitude of angels singing, almost like a military choir singing in perfect harmony because, after all, angels are God’s armies!

The shepherds heard the news! God had finally come! Immanuel. The 400 years of silence had been deafeningly broken. Per the angel’s instructions, it was time for some to begin to visit him! Can you believe it? The first human guests to come visit God in human flesh were the shepherds. Not the rich and powerful, but lowly shepherds. Another theme of humility invading the Christmas story. God made a statement by inviting the lowly, seemingly insignificant ones to be the first to come to his birth party.

How great is our God!

Characters at the Cradle: The Birth of Jesus, God in Human Flesh

by David Chadwick

When Caesar Augustus gave a decree mandating everyone to be registered for taxes, Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem began. Remember as you read the Christmas story that there was not one aspect that was outside of God’s control or plan. In fact, every moment was a part of his plan. The twists and turns, the ups and downs – all of them point to our great need for redemption through Jesus.

While in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth. Let’s look at Luke 2:5-7, where God, through Jesus, entered the world. The main character of the entire story!

For being such a detail-oriented author, Luke does leave some mystery in these verses surrounding Jesus’s actual birth. So many questions and so few answers! I can’t help but wonder if Luke intentionally left some mystery around the birth of Jesus. Sometimes humans become fixated on understanding all of the details and lose sight of the wonder of the Savior. As we follow Jesus, we must embrace mystery, realizing that some things will only make sense in heaven.

While we don’t know for sure what the exact context was of Joseph and Mary’s wedding celebration, we know from Luke’s account that Joseph was with Mary, caring for her during the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Determined to obey God to be her caring husband.

In verse 7, God in human flesh entered the world. Baby Jesus was born. In a stable. With straw. Surrounded by animals who were probably quite smelly. They were the first invited guests for the actual birth.

Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes, which, as a side note, was the same material used to wrap him up and lay him in the empty tomb following his crucifixion.

The King of kings and Lord of lords was born in a smelly stable, as there was no place in the inn. He came in humility, not splendor. Surroundings that were so meager and so humbling. The God of the universe led the way in a life that was opposed to the proud. Humility is the heart of God and the beginning point for eternal salvation.

As his followers, we, too, should choose humility. The Bible says that if we do, he will lift us up to a place of honor.