12/25/25 Grif.Net - Familiar Story Retold
b...@grif.net
[It has been the Griffin family tradition to read the Christmas Story from Luke 2 before opening gifts on Christmas morning. In 1970, in our first Christmas as husband and wife, we sat alone in a quiet Watertown apartment and read. Fifty-six years later, we sit alone in the quiet warmth of our home (back in Watertown in retirement), surrounded by frozen tundra and snow drifts, and read. We invite you to read with us from the English Standard Version translation of God’s inspired Word]
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [This was the first registration before Quirinius was governor of Syria.] And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men!”
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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. All who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
“From all harm safe in His sheltering arms
I'm living by faith and feel no alarm.”
