04: Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1 – 24)

God made Jesus born away from home and laid in a manger. They sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased.’ Christ glorifies God and brings peace to us, through His suffering.

👉 Read Luke 2:1 - 24

Q1. Why did Jesus' parents travel to Bethlehem while Mary was pregnant?

At the behest of Emperor Augustus for registration for tax purposes.

Joseph was a descendant of David, and Bethlehem must have been his family's inheritance. However, coming to Galilee and earning a living as a carpenter showed that the Old Testament laws for restoring inheritance, like the year of Jubilee, were ignored.

Joseph’s return to his hometown, though temporary, was to prove Jesus was the son of David and to allude to God’s restoration of the inheritance of His people.

Q2. What are the three points of the angel's message to the shepherds? (10, 11, 12)

• A good news that brings great joy to all the people.

• Today your Savior is born: This is the reason for the joy. “Today” means God’s time of salvation has finally come.

• The sign of your Savior is that he is laid in a manger: This is the mystery of the cross. The sign of our Savior is not a crown but a manger.

The world cannot understand nor accept the gospel of the cross and the Savior in a manger.

One angel, not many, announced the message to them.

Q3. What was the song of the heavenly army?  

• Glory to God in the highest.

• On earth, peace among people with whom He is pleased.

Who are those with whom God is pleased? From this passage, they were the shepherds and Mary, to whom the message was announced and who responded with faith. Everyone who hears the gospel and believes will have this peace.

Q4. What did they do after hearing the message of the angel? (two things)

They went to see the things made known to them. Note that the angel didn’t say, “Go and see.” When you come to know Jesus, you would follow him even though he doesn’t say, “Follow me.”

They told everything heard from the angel to Mary. Mary kept all those words in her heart and pondered the mystery of her son’s ministry.

Q5. What did they do according to the law of Moses? (three things)

They kept the purification period after Jesus’ birth, 40 days after the delivery (Lev 12:1–4).

They presented Jesus as he was the firstborn (they must have paid 5 shekels as in Num 18:16).

They offered a purification offering for Mary (Lev 12:8). Offering doves shows they were poor.

Jesus was circumcised and named just as commanded. He went through all requirements of the law.

It was not when they heard the good news but when they saw and confirmed the gospel was true that they praised the Lord in joy. When you devote your life for the gospel and experience God's power in it, you can't stop praising the Lord.