Day 13 - There's a new sheriff in town

Luke 2:1-20 (The Message)

The Birth of Jesus
1-5About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone
8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Mike's Thoughts:
Up to this point we have been reading from the Old Testament – basically, life before Jesus. This passage is from the New Testament – life with and after Jesus. Everything is about to change. God's passion for his people hasn't changed. The kind of king that is to lead the people is changing. The holy life God calls his people to live hasn't changed, but the way we become holy is changing. God wanting to connect with his people isn't changing. Rather, how people connect with God is changing. Over the next few weeks we will get a bird’s eye view of what has changed and what hasn't. This baby isn't just any baby, he is our connection to God. From this baby we will see NEW LIFE. I think that is why God chose a baby. He could have just sent Jesus here as a man to go through trials, temptations, and then death. But then we wouldn't have gotten the NEW LIFE perspective. This baby was on purpose.

Prayer:
God, thanks for change. Thanks that through change we get to see where we have come from, and we get to look forward to the new life. Thanks that everday we can look to Jesus and have a new life. Help us to know that we are forgiven daily. Help us to know that everday we wake up we get a new life. Help us to know you and your grace more.