Thursday 25 December 2025
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (vs 6-7)
Background
Happy Christmas! May the joy and wonder of God coming to earth in human form fill your heart, mind and spirit, whatever you may be doing today!
If you have time to spend a few moments considering this passage from Luke then do read on. Luke is a brilliant storyteller and he has a wonderful story to tell. (Although some of the details throw up a few problems: there is no other evidence of a census such as he describes at this time. The dates are a little confusing too – Augustus was the Roman emperor until 4 BC; Quirinius became governor in 6 or 7 AD.)
Luke is writing around 70 years after the events he describes, at a time when the still-powerful Roman Empire was at best suspicious of Christianity and at worst hostile. He paints a picture of a world where all the political power is held by the pagan Roman Empire and yet somehow, God, who is the true power, uses this activity in such a way that Jesus is born exactly where he should be – in Bethlehem, the town of King David.
That the surroundings are simple is not in question, although perhaps speculation has tended to create a level of poverty and squalor which is not justified by the words used. The baby is cared for by his mother, Mary, he is laid in a manger, because there is no room in the 'inn', a word that could better be translated as ‘guest chamber’. It is the same word Luke uses in 22:11 to describe the location of the Last Supper. Another beautiful symmetry which Luke demonstrates between the first and last days of Jesus is seen in the way Jesus is wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger at birth and is wrapped in linen cloth and laid in a tomb at death (23:53).
The shepherds make a joyful contrast to the magi (wise men) in Matthew's Gospel (2:1-20). Much has been speculated about the shepherds' status in society at that time, but certainly they are shown by Luke as outside all that is happening in the town, and yet they are ones who first hear about Jesus' birth. Such inclusion of people who are lowly in society will be a mark of Luke's entire gospel, as will the significance of the titles announced by the angels for Jesus: ‘Saviour’, ‘Messiah’ and ‘Lord’.
To Ponder:
- Today you might feel like the shepherds, acting with haste, making known what you have discovered then giving glory and praise to God. Or you might be like those who hear and are amazed; or feel like Mary, wanting to treasure and ponder everything. Who do you most identify with?
- There is room for all on Christmas Day: the 'Coming Light' has arrived in the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks.
Prayer: (from StF 202: 'Hark! The herald-angels sing')
"Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all be brings, risen with healing in his wings." Amen.
Bible notes author: Jill Baker
Jill Baker is a Local Preacher and tutor in the Methodist Church in Scotland, now living in Stirlingshire, surrounded by mountains and lochs.