Week 52 - Unto You A Child Is Born
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, ESV)
How do you respond to Christmas, the birthday of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Imagine yourself as a visitor in Judea. You hear the breaking news on television. The long-awaited Messiah is born. How do you respond? Text and e-mail to friends back home perhaps. Centuries earlier, God spoke through His prophets saying that He would send a Messiah who would usher in an eternal kingdom of righteousness.
The Emperor’s Action
Section titled “The Emperor’s Action”Luke 2 tells us that the emperor Caesar Augustus commanded all residents living within the Roman Empire to register for taxation. Every Jew must return to the land of his ancestors to register. Joseph and Mary were living at this time in Nazareth. Joseph must travel to Bethlehem to register. Mary, several months pregnant, apparently did not want Joseph to be away when the child was born and so she accompanied him to Bethlehem.
If the emperor had not decreed as such, Jesus would have been born in Nazareth. God had said through His prophet Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: “But you, O Bethlehem… from you shall come forth… one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (
The Angels’ Proclamation
Section titled “The Angels’ Proclamation”On the night Jesus was born, God sent a large number of angelic messengers to announce the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. He chose to send His messengers to a group of poor shepherds tending their flocks in the middle of the night. Isaiah had prophesied that “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (
What would be true figuratively with the coming of the Messiah was fulfilled literally. There was no electricity, no flood lights and no hurricane lamp! All was completely dark. The shepherds had gathered their sheep close around a fire. It was silent, except perhaps for a dog barking in the distance and a whisper among the shepherds.
Then suddenly a flash! A bright light — and the glory of God shone on them. An angel of blazing brightness mighty in strength and overwhelming in power, appeared before them. They are blinded by the light, and could hardly see. Then breaking through the silence, “a great company of the heavenly host appeared” praising God with “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (
In the midst of their surprise and fright, the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (
Why did the angel say, “To you”? He could have just said, “For a Savior, Christ the Lord is born this day.” But he says, “To you”! He used those words because they describe why the news is so joyous! The child is born to you! To all the people in the world! The child is born not just to the rich and powerful, not just to the Pharisees and Sadducees, not just to the chief priests and the scribes, but to you! To all the people, young and old, rich and poor, healthy and sick, strong and weak. The prophet Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born.” This child is born to be the saviour of the world. He was born to you and to me.
The Shepherds’ Response
Section titled “The Shepherds’ Response”How did the shepherds respond? Not with pride: “Aren’t we special! God sent his angels to us!” Not with scepticism: “Is this some sort of mass hallucination?” Instead, the shepherds responded with joy and with faith. They gave glory to God for His mighty, faithful work.
God orchestrated every event for centuries so that a Roman emperor would issue a censor to bring an unknown young girl from Nazareth to Bethlehem. God enabled her to give birth in humble surroundings, yet sent His majestic heavenly messengers to proclaim the great joy.
How will you respond? Unto you a child is born. Glory to God in the Highest! Praise Him! Will you respond by telling someone that Jesus Christ is born just as the song writer had penned:
Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere, Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born.