Last time I wrote about a priest, Zacharias, and his wife Elizabeth, an older couple who became the parents of John the Baptist. Six months after Elizabeth became pregnant, the angel, Gabriel….the same one who had visited Zacharias….was sent by God to the city of Nazareth to a virgin named Mary who was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph.
Luke 1: 28…And the angel came in unto her and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
When Mary saw him and heard him speak, she was troubled and wondered to herself what kind of greeting was this?
30-38: And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you shall conceive and bring forth a son and shall call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Mary said, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
The angel told her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall overcome you and that holy thing that shall be born of you will be called the Son of God. Your cousin, Elizabeth has also conceived in her old age and is now in her sixth month. She was called barren, but with God nothing is impossible.”
Mary nodded. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord,” she said. “Be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel left her.
Shortly after this Mary traveled to the hill country to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, she was filled with the glory of the Holy Spirit and the baby within her leaped for joy. The two women began to share their stories and praise God for the wonder of His love and the greatness of his ability to perform such miracles. Mary stayed with her cousin for three months then returned to her home in Nazareth.
Upon hearing that Mary, his wife to be, was expecting a baby, Joseph began to wonder just how he should handle this situation. The angel of the Lord also appeared to him in a dream and told him not to worry about taking Mary as his wife, “for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 1: 20
It came to pass that a decree went out from Caesar for all the people to be taxed. So Joseph and Mary, who was almost ready to deliver her baby by now, traveled to Bethlehem to be taxed according to the law. Due to the number of people traveling for this same purpose, there were no rooms available at the Inn. Knowing Mary was about to give birth, Joseph made arrangements for them to stay in the stables. At least they would have some sort of shelter and a place for the baby to be born.
Luke 2: 7….And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. (a feeding trough used for the animals)
In the meantime, there were shepherds in the field keeping watch over their sheep, when the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shown all around them and they were so afraid! But the angel told them: “Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord! This shall be a sign unto you. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, a host of angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will toward men.”
Can you imagine how frightening this must have been for these shepherds? For some four hundred years there had been no prophets and very few signs from heaven of God’s existence. They must go and see for themselves this miracle the angel had told them about.
When they arrived in Bethlehem it was just as the angel had said. They found the baby lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the news abroad what they had seen and heard concerning this child. All that heard it wondered about the story the shepherds told….Even today, as we once again celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus, people wonder.
As we busy ourselves with the shopping and baking….all the festivities that go along with the holiday, let’s keep in mind the one who’s birth we are celebrating and give thanks to God for giving us His most precious gift. Let us continue, as the shepherds did, to share the tidings of great joy to all who are willing to hear. For unto us on this day, a child was born…our savior, who is Christ the Lord! Merry Christmas!!
Tidings of Great Joy
