The Lowly Birth of Lasting Glory

In Luke’s Gospel, he makes a detailed account of the birth of Jesus. From Joseph returning to his hometown of Bethlehem, to the shepherds who watch over their flocks at night, to Mary cherishing what takes place, there is great richness in the details surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Day 1: Lineage of David (v. 1-5)

“¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ 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, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Luke 2:1-5, ESV).

God uses the decree by Caesar Augustus to bring Joseph back to his hometown, Bethlehem. This was prophesied in Micah 5, where it says: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2). Though this is a beautiful prophecy that is now being fulfilled, what is also significant is the end of verse 4 that says Joseph “was of the lineage of David.” At that time, a child’s legal lineage came through his father, even if he was not biologically his father’s son. Therefore, Jesus’ lineage is connected to David. In 2 Samuel 7, God promises David that he will have a son whose kingdom will never end. This son is none other than Jesus.

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17 to see how Jesus is the final fulfillment of this prophecy.

• What does 2 Samuel 7:1-17 teach you about God’s faithfulness to promises made generations earlier?
• How does this passage invite you to see Jesus as the Promised Son of David this Christmas season?

Day 2: Lowly and Accessible (v. 6-10)

“⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ 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. ⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’” (Luke 2:6-10).

Though Jesus will have a kingdom that will never end, his birth does not portray this. His birth is one of humility, a state of being lowly. When Jesus is born, he is laid in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough, what animals eat out of. The Promised Son of David, the Maker of heaven and earth, God in flesh, is born and laid in a feeding trough. This mirrors Jesus’ entire life as Paul says, “...^6b though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

Of all the people the angels could have appeared to, they come to the shepherds. Shepherds were despised, disregarded people. In fact, shepherds were considered to be the lowest class of people. Yet, Jesus being born in a manger demonstrates his accessibility to the lowest people. He is not born in a palace where only the powerful and wealthy can reach him. He is born in a place where all can reach him. Jesus says that he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” His lowliness invites us to come to him. This is, of course, displayed at his birth.

Read Matthew 11:28-30 to see how Jesus’ humble and accessible birth would demonstrate his gentle and lowly heart.

• How does Jesus’ birth in a manger shape your understanding of what God’s kingdom is like?
• How do Jesus’ words, “come to me… for I am gentle and lowly in heart” bring comfort to you this Christmas season?

Day 3: Lamb of God (v. 8)

“⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8).

Part of the flock the shepherds were watching over likely included sacrificial lambs. According to Jewish tradition, flocks between Jerusalem and Bethlehem are presumed to be dedicated for temple sacrifices.

Though we might not know for sure if the shepherds watched over flocks used for temple sacrifices, we do know this: they come to a feeding trough used for animals to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:27). The Lamb that the shepherds come to see is greater than any flock they watch over. The shepherds are ceremonially unclean, not allowed to participate in the religious rituals. However, they come to the Lamb of God, who is without blemish and who is eventually offered as the final sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12). He later takes their uncleanliness upon himself, offering them his cleanliness. He does the same for us. The Lamb of God has come.

Read Genesis 22 to see how the Lamb that Abraham and Isaac mention would come.

• The shepherds were considered ceremonially unclean. What does it communicate about Jesus that they are invited to come to him first?
• In what ways does recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God change how you respond to him personally during this season?

Day 4: Lord, Promised One, Savior (v. 11)

“¹¹ ‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:11).

In verse 11, the angels tell the shepherds that in the city of Bethlehem, a Savior is born, who is Christ the Lord. Here, three different titles are given to Jesus. First, Jesus is called Savior. Jesus saves his people from their sins. Whether we like to admit it or not, we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Humanity is under the curse of sin. It does not end there. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). By “becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13) and dying the death sinners deserve, Jesus delivers his people from the penalty of their sins. He alone is our Savior.

Second, Jesus is called Christ. This term can be translated as “Messiah” or the “Anointed One.” Jesus is the promised One who has come. He is the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), the promised offspring of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), the promised Lion of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8-12), the promised Prophet greater than Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), the promised Son of David (2 Samuel 7), and the promised Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). He is the promised Messiah.

Third, Jesus is called Lord. He rules over all things. Paul says that God “…^20b raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23). Jesus reigns as Lord. He gets to make the rules, not us. He deserves our obedience and allegiance. He is our Lord.

These titles should not be separated from each other. Jesus is the Lord of all creation, the Promised One who has come to deliver his people.

Read Hebrews 1:1-13 to see how God has spoken to us through Jesus the Messiah, who is Lord of all things and has made purification for sins.

• How does Hebrews 1:1–13 bring all three titles together into one unified picture of Jesus?
• How should recognizing Jesus as Lord of all, the Promised One, and Savior impact the way you live this Christmas season?

Day 5: Lifting Up Praises (v. 12-14)

“¹² ‘And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:12-14).

The Bible does not provide many accounts of angels praising God. Job 38 mentions that the angels give God praise at creation. Isaiah 6 says that the angels cry out “holy, holy, holy” in God’s heavenly throne room. The Psalms mention how the angels give God praise. And of course, here in Luke, the angels are seen giving God praise at the birth of Jesus.

After the angels announce that Jesus has been born in Bethlehem, they praise God with a multitude of heavenly hosts. As they sing a song, they give glory to God and announce peace on earth. Though the angels eventually stop singing on earth before going back to heaven, we continue their praises here on earth. The worship of God is not limited to angels, but we get to join in, praising him for giving us his Son, Jesus. What a great privilege it is to sing songs to our Lord and Savior!

However, the next time the angels are seen praising God in the Bible is found in the book of Revelation, where they praise the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 4–5). Later, it is not only the angels and the heavenly hosts singing, but all who have been redeemed join in this triumphal shout of praise. As the angels sing of the first coming of Jesus, we join in the song of his second coming.

Read Revelation 19:1-8 to see how we will join with all of heaven in praising the One who has defeated the enemy and to whom belongs salvation, glory, and honor.

• What does the angels’ praise reveal about who Jesus is and what his coming accomplishes?
• How does the promise of joining heaven’s worship in Revelation shape how you celebrate Christmas?

Day 6: Least-Likely Evangelists (v. 15-18)

“¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2:15-18).

After the angels go to heaven, the shepherds immediately go to Bethlehem to see the baby lying in a manger. The shepherds go with haste, meaning they did not waste any time to see what took place. Shepherds were considered untrustworthy people, and their testimony had little to no value in the culture. However, their testimony has value to God. When they see the baby, they spread the news to others. The shepherds are the first human evangelists to go and proclaim that the Savior who has been promised is here. Through the shepherds, God continues his global mission as he brings good news of great joy for all the people through Jesus Christ. This mission does not stop with the shepherds. In fact, it does not even stop with the twelve disciples. Today, God commissions us to go and proclaim that the Savior has come and will come again.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 to see how God includes us in his global mission.

• Why do you think God often chooses least-likely people to carry out his mission?
• How does knowing that God has given you the message of reconciliation as an ambassador for Christ encourage you to proclaim who Jesus is this Christmas season?

Day 7: Lasting Adoration (v. 19-20)

“¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ 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).

Mary treasures what takes place. She does not let these moments wander away from her. She ponders them and holds them tightly. She beholds her son, Jesus. She remembers what happened on this glorious night. Though she does not know everything, she understands that her baby is different from any other.

The shepherds go back to their flock, glorifying and praising God for all they have heard and seen. As they return, they do not quickly forget what just happened. Not only have they been invited to come see the baby, but they also have the joy of telling others their experience of the Savior, Christ the Lord. They recognize that this is something only God can do. Because of this, they give glory to God. They praise him.

Can we say the same of ourselves? Many of us have grown up hearing this story throughout the years. However, can we honestly say that we still treasure the birth of Jesus? Can we say that his birth still leads us to glorify and praise God sincerely? This Christmas, let us treasure this in our hearts and worship our Savior. Jesus has come. God wraps himself in humanity. This is the greatest Christmas miracle: Emmanuel—God is with us.

Read Psalm 103 to see how we are to bless the Lord and treasure his steadfast love.

• How does Psalm 103 help you remember and treasure what the Lord has done?
• In what practical ways can you treasure Jesus’ birth in your heart this Christmas season?

Jesus, the Promised Son of David, was made low and accessible in his birth. He is the Lamb of God, our Savior, Messiah, and Lord. Because of this, we can worship him with loud shouts of praise, tell others about him, and treasure him in our hearts, giving him glory.