Stephen M. Miller – Tuesday, 24 December 2013 It’s a boy: Jesus
“ALL OF A SUDDEN an angel showed up, standing right there in
front of them. Glowing. Like someone who had just stepped out of the presence
of God—taking part of God’s glow with him.”
1. ABOUT THE TIME MARY GOT PREGNANT, Caesar Augustus ordered a
census. He wanted to count everyone.
2. This was the first census the Romans took after Quirinius
became Syria’s governor.
3. Folks went to their hometown to register.
4. Joseph did, too. He left the place he was living in Nazareth,
a city in Israel’s north region called Galilee. He went south to Bethlehem.
That’s where he came from—the hometown of his famous relative, King David.
5. Joseph took his fiancé with him—Mary, who was very pregnant.
6. They got to Bethlehem at the perfect time for a census. Time
to give birth.
7. Mary had her first child. A boy. She wrapped him tightly in
cloth. Then she laid him in a feeding trough—a manger for his bed. She had no
choice. Bethlehem’s inn didn’t have any vacancies.
8. Nearby, shepherds had set up camp so they could keep an eye
on their sheep at night.
9. All of a sudden an angel showed up, standing right there in
front of them. Glowing. Like someone who had just stepped out of the presence
of God—taking part of God’s glow with him. The shepherds were more than a tad
bit scared.
10. “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said. “I’ve got great news. And
there’s enough joy in it to fill up everybody.
11. Bethlehem will no longer be known as the town where David was
born. For today, in David’s hometown, the Messiah has been born. He just
arrived. Your Lord has come to save you.
12. Here’s how you’ll recognize him. He’s a newborn baby wrapped
in cloth, like you’d expect. The surprise is that you’ll find him lying in a
manger.”
13. Suddenly, the lone angel wasn’t alone anymore. He brought
company. Lots and lots of company. Angels everywhere. They were happy with God.
They said,
14. “Praise God from here to heaven. Peace has come to earth for
everyone who loves God and wants nothing more than to please him.”
15. When the angels left, the shepherds couldn’t stop talking.
“What are we doing still standing here? We need to get our feet moving right
now to Bethlehem so we can see for ourselves what the Lord was talking about.”
16. They did not walk, they ran until they found Mary and
Joseph. There he was, the baby, lying in the manger. Just like the angel said.
17. When they saw this with their own eyes, they were all mouth.
They could not, they did not stop talking about what God’s angels had told
them.
18. The people who heard all of this were amazed beyond amazing.
19. Mary scooped it all in. The words, the laughter, the joy.
Quietly, she stored it all in her heart. Every bit of it.
20. The shepherds went back to their flock. But they didn’t go
quietly. Still talking. Still laughing. Still thanking God for everything he
had let them hear and see on that wonderful day.
Luke 2:1-20, Steve’s Bible Translation
PS. Here’s a short “Star of Bethlehem” video for you:
The post It’s a boy: Jesus appeared first on Stephen M. Miller.
Manger, baby-safe by Stephen M. Miller
Why did Roman writer Soranus from the first century say a
feeding trough also known as a manger was a good place for a baby to sleep?
They were usually tilted, to make it easier for the animals to
eat. This also allowed the baby to sleep with its head raised, which made it
easier for the baby to breathe.
The post Manger, baby-safe appeared first on Stephen M. Miller.
More to read:
Who messed up Matthew’s Jesus quote?
Warning, from a father of the bride
Christians, chill out about Christmas
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