God With Us: An Audio Advent Devotional

Day 24: Jesus' Birth

Episode Summary

Jesus’ birth takes place in the quiet, with only Joseph, some animals, and a few shepherds to bear witness.

Episode Notes

Jesus’ birth takes place in the quiet, with only Joseph, some animals, and a few shepherds to bear witness.

Transcript

Episode Transcription

Advent Day 24, Jesus' Birth.

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem because they must follow Rome's decree no matter how many months pregnant Mary is.

There are no medical exceptions.

And nearby, shepherds sitting in the fields outside Bethlehem, they expect, if not hoped for, a quiet night of watching over their sheep.

But nothing goes as planned.

Angels show up.

Contractions begin.

Jesus literally is on the way.

Luke 2:1-5 says, "In those days, the decree went out from Caesar, Augustus, that all the world should be registered."

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to 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, who was with child.

Mary is around 36 weeks pregnant.

And if not heavy of step, most definitely short of breath, as she and Joseph plod toward Bethlehem.

One mile behind them, so many more to go.

Mary can't see her feet anymore, can barely feel them really.

But she trusts Joseph.

She puts her hand in his.

And they walk.

They walk together.

Joseph matching his pace to Mary's.

As they take their careful measured steps, do they whisper their hopes and fears?

Do they speak of angels and dreams and promises?

What do you think Mary and Joseph discuss on their long journey to Bethlehem?

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn, Luke 2:6-7.

How do Mary and Joseph make do with what they have, even if it might not be what they wanted or hopeful?

How are you having to make do with what you have in this season?

And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:8.

The shepherds expect little of the night.

It is a night like any other night.

Soon it will be time to move the sheep to another field, but for now, the shepherds gather kindling and prepare a simple meal before settling into the long nights of watching over their sheep.

What do you think the shepherds discuss during their long nights of tending sheep?

And then, an angel.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news "of great joy that will be for all the people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, "a savior who has crushed the Lord.

"And this will be a sign for you.

"You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths "and lying in a manger, Luke 2:9-12."

Why do you think the shepherds are the first to be told the news of Jesus' birth?

The shepherds waste no time.

They don't quibble about the message.

They don't wonder if they saw what they saw.

The shepherds go to Bethlehem, for God has made known to them that His Messiah is at hand.

What do you find encouraging or convicting about the shepherds' response to the angel?

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told to them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them, Luke 2:16-18.

The shepherds recall what was told to them and they share it with others.

Why?

Why do you think their second response is to share the good news?

Why do you think the people wonder at what the shepherds tell them?

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them, Luke 2:19-20.

How does Mary respond to what the shepherds say and how is her response different from the people's?

And suddenly there was, with the angel, the multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, "and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased."

Luke 2:13-14.

In Luke's accounts of Jesus' life, God's messages expand outward.

Elizabeth learns that she will have a son who will prepare the way of the Lord.

Mary receives news that she will be the mother of the Messiah.

When she goes with haste to tell Elizabeth, the woman and the baby in Elizabeth's womb overflow with praise.

The same thing happens with the shepherds.

It's not one shepherd who receives the good news, it's a group of them.

When they hear the news, they act on the news.

They go with haste to Bethlehem to see the wondrous things told to them.

There they share the message they receive from the angels with everyone they meet.

The angels can't contain their joy either.

One angel appears to the shepherds, but it's as though one angel is insufficient to express the joy of God's salvation.

A host is needed to make known the good news.

And then, quiet.

Mary treasures the words spoken in the shepherd's visit.

She holds the words close and savers them.

Hope can be bright and loud and expansive, like the angels praising God.

But it can be quiet too, like Mary settling beside the manger and pondering events and words and shepherds.

What kind of hope do you have or want this season?

How do the different people in the Christmas story make room for your quiet or loud hope?

Both Mary and the shepherds go and tell someone what they have heard and seen.

Who do you need to go and tell?

Pray for that person or people now.

Ask that they will hear and receive the good news that Jesus has been born.

Pray for that person or people.

Ask that they will hear and receive the good news Jesus has been born. Let's pray together.

Lord Jesus, all of creation's celebrated when you were born from the lowliest shepherd to the most magnificent angel.

Thank you for treasuring the lowly and unseen.

Thank you for choosing them as your first witnesses.

May we be like the shepherds going with haste to see miracles and to invite others to see miracles with us.

Amen.