Christmas 2022: The Nativity

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census shouldbe taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took placewhile Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town toregister. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line ofDavid. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married tohim and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for thebaby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him incloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room availablefor them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keepingwatch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, andthe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angelsaid to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause greatjoy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born toyou; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find ababy wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of theheavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to Godin the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to oneanother, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which theLord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and thebaby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the wordconcerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it wereamazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all thesethings and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying andpraising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just asthey had been told.
-Luke 2:1-20

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The ox knows his master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israeldoes not know, my people do not understand.”
-Isaiah 1:3

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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do goodworks, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-Ephesians 2:10

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“Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one! Therefore youshall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul andwith all your strength.”
-Deuteronomy 6:4-5

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In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angelGabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to aman named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angelwent to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is withyou.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greetingthis might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you havefound favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are tocall him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reignover Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will thisbe,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The HolySpirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Sothe holy one to be born will be called. Even Elizabeth your relative is goingto have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceiveis in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’sservant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angelleft her.
-Luke 1:26-38

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This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His motherMary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, shewas found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husbandwas faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace,he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, anangel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, donot be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in heris from the Holy Spirit.
-Matthew 1:18-20

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“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news ofgreat joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David aSavior has been born to you who is Christ the Lord.”
-Luke 2:10-11

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time ofKing Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and ask, “Where is the one whohas been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come toworship him.”
-Matthew 2:1-2

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…and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them untilit stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, theywere overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his motherMary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasuresand presented him with gifts…
-Matthew 2:9-11