Welcome Baby Jesus

[Dexu Xia]

 

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12

Luke’s record of Jesus’ birth includes several paradoxes: people—humble, nightshift-shepherds (2:8); place—Bethlehem “the town of David” (v. 11; see also Micah 5:2); and setting—a cloth-wrapped child “lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). At first, these seem to be an incongruent mismatch with the coming of one hailed as “a Savior . . . the Messiah, the Lord” (v. 11). Yet, as we soberly reflect on this Christmas Day, pondering turns to praise of the God who “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; . . . the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

 Today's Devotional

It felt like we’d been waiting forever for news that our pregnant neighbor had welcomed her first baby. When a sign declaring “It’s a Girl!” finally appeared on their front lawn, we celebrated the birth of their daughter and texted friends who might not have seen the outdoor display.

There’s great excitement awaiting the arrival of a baby. Before Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people hadn’t just been waiting a few months, they’d longed for the birth of the Messiah, Israel’s expected rescuer, for generations. I imagine that over the years faithful Jews wondered if during their lifetime they would see the fulfillment of this promise. 

One night the long-anticipated news was displayed in the heavens when an angel appeared to shepherds in Bethlehem announcing that the Messiah had finally been born. He told them, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). After the shepherds saw Jesus, they praised God and “spread the word” (v. 17) about the baby.

God wanted the shepherds to know that the long-awaited baby had arrived so they could tell others about Jesus’ birth. We still celebrate His birth because His life provides rescue from the brokenness of the world to anyone who believes. We no longer have to wait to know peace and experience joy, which is good news worth announcing!

 

Reflect & Pray

How do you think the shepherds felt hearing the news that Christ was born? How might you share the good news of Jesus’ birth?

 

Dear Jesus, I want everyone to know that Your birth is good news.

欢迎婴儿耶稣

你会发现一个婴儿包着布躺在马槽里。路加福音2:12

路加对耶稣诞生的记录包括几个悖论：

人物：谦逊的夜班牧羊人（2:8）；

地点：伯利恒“大卫的城”（11节；弥迦书5:2）；

场景:一个裹着布的婴儿“躺在马槽里”（路加福音 2:12）。起初，这些似乎与被誉为“救世主……弥赛亚，主”（第 11 节）的人的到来不相称。然而，当我们严肃地反思这个圣诞节时，沉思转向赞美上帝，他“拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧；……世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧”（哥林多前书 1:27）。

今天的灵修

感觉我们一直在等待我们怀孕的邻居迎来她的第一个孩子的消息。当一块写着“是个女孩！”的牌子终于出现在他们家的前院时，我们庆祝了他们女儿的出生，并给可能没有看到户外展示的朋友发短信。

等待婴儿的到来让人兴奋不已。在耶稣诞生之前，犹太人不只是等待了几个月，他们几代人都渴望着以色列的救世主弥赛亚的诞生。我想多年来，虔诚的犹太人一直在想，他们是否能在有生之年看到这个承诺的实现。

一天晚上，期待已久的消息在天上显现，一位天使出现在伯利恒的牧羊人面前，宣布弥赛亚终于诞生了。​​他告诉他们，“这将是你们的记号：你们将要看见一个裹着布的婴儿躺在马槽里”（路加福音 2:12）。牧羊人看到耶稣后，赞美上帝并“传播”有关婴儿的消息（17节）。

上帝希望牧羊人知道期待已久的婴儿已经到来，这样他们就可以告诉其他人耶稣的诞生。我们仍然庆祝他的诞生，因为他的生命为任何相信的人提供了从破碎的世界中解救出来的机会。我们不再需要等待才能知道平安和体验快乐，这是值得宣布的好消息！

反思和祈祷 ：你认为牧羊人听到基督诞生的消息时有何感受？你会如何分享耶稣诞生的好消息？

亲爱的主耶稣，我想让每个人都知道，你的诞生是个好消息。12242024