Knowing The Word in Luke 2:1-7, The Birth

Luke, the historian, firmly grounds the time of the birth of Jesus in history. He tells us why Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem, the home of King David and the place where prophecy said the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem (Beth-lehem) means “house of bread.” He who is the bread of life is born in the house of bread. He who is the true king is born in the town of Israel’s greatest king. And yet he is born into a peasant family, living in poverty, who cannot even find a room in an inn for the Messiah. Instead, he is born among the animals and placed in their humble feeding trough.

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and

wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Prayer: We pray to you, O Lord, to purify our hearts that they may be worthy to become your dwelling place. Let us never fail to find room for you, but come and abide in us that we also may abide in you, who as at this time was born into the world for us, and does live and reign, King of kings and Lord of lords, now and for evermore. Amen. William Temple, 1881-1944