The Beginning:
A decree goes out for a census, and Joseph travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem, his ancestral town, bringing Mary, who is pregnant. While they are there, the time comes for her to give birth. The setting is humble, and circumstances are constrained.
The Middle:
Mary gives birth to her firstborn son, wraps him in cloths, and lays him in a manger because there is no guest room available. Nearby, shepherds in the fields are startled by an angel who announces “good news of great joy” for all the people: a Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born in Bethlehem. A multitude of angels praises God, declaring peace associated with God’s favor.
The End:
The shepherds go to Bethlehem, find Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger, and make known what they were told about the child. Those who hear marvel, while Mary treasures and reflects on these things. The shepherds return glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard.
The birth of Jesus reveals God’s redemptive initiative entering human history in humility rather than worldly power. The angelic announcement identifies the child as Savior and Christ the Lord, linking Israel’s hopes for God’s promised deliverance with a universal scope of “good news…for all the people.” The worship offered by angels and shepherds highlights that God’s salvation is received through faith and proclaimed publicly, beginning with the lowly and extending outward.
In first-century Judea, homes commonly included space where animals could be sheltered, and a manger (a feeding trough) could be present in or near such domestic areas. Luke’s description underscores the ordinary setting of Jesus’ birth without requiring a later-style “stable,” emphasizing the family’s limited lodging options in Bethlehem.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Why did Mary lay her newborn son in a manger?
2. What message did the angel announce to the shepherds about the child born in Bethlehem?