The Birth of Jesus

In the days of King Herod, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. Gabriel appeared to her with startling news: 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was troubled by this greeting, but the angel said, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.'

Mary asked how this could be, since she was a virgin. The angel explained, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.' Mary responded with beautiful submission: 'I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.' When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he planned to divorce her quietly, being a righteous man who didn't want to expose her to public disgrace. But an angel appeared to him in a dream, explaining that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save His people from their sins.

In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone had to go to their own town to register. So Joseph traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, David's city, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He took Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. The journey was about ninety miles—difficult for a woman in her final months of pregnancy.

While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for the baby to be born. Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger—a feeding trough for animals—because there was no guest room available for them. The Creator of the universe entered His creation in the humblest of circumstances, born in a stable because there was no room for His family in the inn. The eternal Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Nearby, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, terrifying them. But the angel said, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'

When the angels left, 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.' They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. 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.

The birth of Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecies: that the Messiah would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, from David's line, to save His people from their sins. God didn't announce this momentous event to the powerful or religious elite, but to humble shepherds—demonstrating that this good news was for all people, especially the lowly and marginalized. In the most unexpected way and place, God's plan of salvation entered human history.