Basic HTML Version
10
A Call to Stand Apart
with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the
Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital
relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him
Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for
see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,
the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped
in bands of 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 heaven, and on earth peace
among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shep-
herds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child
lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had
[14]
been told them about this child: and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been
told them.
Luke 2:8-20
.
The promise that Jesus would come as our Savior had been made
in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard it, they
expected a quick fulfillment. So when they held their firstborn son
in their arms, they both hoped he would be the Redeemer. But that
was not to be. Thousands of years later, as God’s appointed time
came, Jesus left heaven to be born in Bethlehem
In becoming human, Jesus demonstrated ultimate humility. On
earth His physical surroundings were primitive. He hid His glory
from those who saw Him and shunned all outward display. The
angels marveled at such a plan of redemption and watched to see
how the people of God would receive His Son
The Roman decree to register everyone in the vast empire ex-
tended to the humble people living in the hills of Galilee. Angels
