Based on The Gospel of Luke
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth,
in Galilee, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
The virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, favored one. God is
with you.”
Mary was troubled at his words and wondered.
The angel said, “Do not be
afraid Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to
a son. You are to call him Jesus. He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. God will give him
the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants
forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked, “since
I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The
Holy Spirit will come and overshadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son
of God. For with God nothing is
impossible.”
Mary answered, “Let it be
done to me as you have said. For I am the Lord’s servant,”
Meanwhile, the
local ruler, Caesar Augustus, issued a decree that a census be taken of the
entire Roman world. Everyone had to go to
their own home town to register.
Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town of David. He belonged to the line of David. He took
Mary also, who was pledged to be married to him, and she was expecting a child.
While there, she gave birth to her
firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips
of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available
for them.
Now shepherds were nearby watching a flock of sheep on this
night. Suddenly the angel of God appeared
to them, and the God’s glory shone around them.
They were terrified.
The angel assured them, “Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. Today in Bethlehem a Savior has been born to
you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. Look
for this sign: find a baby wrapped in strips
of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of angels appeared praising God and
saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace
on earth to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels left, the
shepherds said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and
Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
After seeing all of this the shepherds spread the word about what they
had seen and heard. All who heard it
were amazed.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her
heart.
Merry Christmas from Up-Words
Michael and Carolyn Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement and Inspiration
One Word at a Time
