Luke 2:1-24

2:1-3 | Mary and Joseph had to travel nearly 100 miles south from their hometown of Nazareth in order to comply with the emperor’s edict, a census taken for the purposes of taxation and conscription. This also happened in accordance with the prophecy of Micah 5:2.

2:4-5 | Centuries after David’s birth, Bethlehem (“House of Bread”) would also be the birthplace of Jesus. Significantly, this is the town where the eternal Son of God became flesh – the Bread of God coming down from heaven (John 6:33).

2:7 | When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, deity invaded humanity, eternity invaded humanity, eternity invaded time, and royalty invaded poverty (John 1:1-4; Gal. 4:4). Swaddling clothes were strips of fabric used to keep a baby warm and help it feel secure. The inn was full because so many people had come to register for the census.

2:8 | God chose the least of all the cities (Bethlehem) to host the birth of His Son, and He chose the least of society (shepherds) as the first witnesses. Shepherds were considered ceremonial unclean because they invariably had to engage in financial transactions with Gentiles; therefore, they were not allowed to worship in the temple. Neither were they allowed to testify in court, because they were considered unreliable witnesses.

2:9 | The shekinah glory of the Lord (1 Kgs. 8:10) appeared for the first time in centuries in, of all places, an open field populated by shepherds. Mary, Zacharias, and the shepherds were all in the will of God, going about their daily duties, when the supernatural broke in. Although greatly afraid in the moment, these witnesses ultimately experienced deep joy.

2:10 | Do not be afraid was a standard admonition on the heels of an epiphany (a brief but direct encounter with God). It was also a message for that time in history, for the anxious and restless nation of Israel had been without a word from the Lord for 400 years. The people toiled under the heavy yoke of the Roman Empire, understanding that if they did not submit, they would be destroyed. Jesus was born at a time when a message of great joy was particularly needed.

2:11-12 | The Jewish people of the day longed for a Savior, but they expected Him to free them from Roman rule. The angels message meant something far more important: Jesus had come to reconcile humanity to Himself. People want to be saved from many things – bad marriages, debt, others’ sins – but He came to save individuals from their own sin.

2:14 | The angels’ message contained three components: a song of praise (glory to God); a song of peace (on earth peace); a song of purpose (goodwill toward men). The message of the gospel is that humanity is no longer at enmity with the Almighty; God’s Son has torn down those barriers (Rom. 8:1).

2:15 | Historians have never doubted the location of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem.

2:16 | Although most Nativity scenes picture a manger constructed of wood, nearly all of the mangers found in archaeological digs were carved from a single piece of limestone or basalt – making them look like small tombs. So when the baby Jesus was laid in a manger, it foreshadowed what would be done with His body following His crucifixion.

2:21 | The record shows that at Jesus’ circumcision (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3), His parents did not name Him, as was the custom, but gave Him the name the angel had assigned when Gabriel appeared to Mary.

2:23-24 | When a Jewish couple brought their son for official presentation, OT law required them to bring an offering of a lamb or a goat (Lev. 12:2-6). But if a family could not afford this, they could substitute two turtledoves (Lev. 12:8), which is what Mary and Joseph did. The Savior was born into the poorest of peasant Jewish families so that He might identify with all people.