FRIDAY: THE MAJESTIC BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Dec 16, 2022
2 min read

Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The angels told the shepherd they would find the newborn Messiah lying in a manger wrapped in cloths. The shepherds were no stranger to mangers, which were used frequently to feed sheep and other animals.

The shepherds didn’t procrastinate; they hurried to find the Messiah, which is the anointed One, the Son of God. They found Him exactly as the angels had described, along with Mary and Joseph.

The shepherds didn’t usually hear much news out in the fields, now they had an exclusive story to tell about the angels appearing to them and seeing the Messiah. Their story was so intriguing that all who heard it were amazed.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

While Mary heard the shepherd’s story, she listened intently and treasured these things. She realized the miraculous conception and birth she had been a part of and heard the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus; this must have been overwhelming. What a birth announcement! The shepherds returned to the fields, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. They had a testimony that surpassed all others: Their lives had been forever changed by spectacular visits from a host of angels and with the Son of God.

Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me. Allow me also to give glory and praise to Your name! Amen

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman