Luke Chapter 2

This is the Christmas story.  It is read in households across the world during Christmas.  I encourage you to do the same.  Maybe you don’t have a Bible or maybe you don’t know where to find it, so I have printed it below.  Pass it on to others.

It is not the paper or the binding that makes God’s Word valuable, it is the words themselves.  Whether read, spoken or in thought, God’s words are powerful.  They are said to be living and active in our hearts and souls (Hebrews 4:12).  That is what we need at Christmas time - hearts alive and revived with true love, the love of Jesus.  That is what God’s Word is able to do.  Refresh yourself here with a small, but mighty dose of his work.

Read the scripture below and remember, this celebrated baby came to die for us.  We humans are steeped in sin.  This sin is against God and the just punishment is damnation to Hell.  Yet, Jesus Christ (God’s son), full of grace, took on flesh and came to earth to save us.  Jesus lived a perfect life and paid off our debt of sin with his holy blood.  He died the death we deserved on the cross, bearing his Father’s wrath.  After being dead three days, he raised himself back to life, defeating death and sin forever.  Through believing in Jesus and what he has done, we can be saved and be with him in Heaven for eternity.  This is an incomprehensible gift offered freely to us, do you accept it?

This is what the angel is excited about when he tells the shepherds that he is there with “good news of great joy…for unto you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus began on earth as a baby, but ended as the Victorious Risen Savior for those who believe in him.  Let this good news be for you this year.  Think on these words, read them to your children, make it a standing tradition.  Then find a Bible and get more.

Luke Chapter 2, verses 1 – 20:

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.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.