BABY JESUS IN A MANGER

Passage: Luke 2:1-7

Key verse: 2:7

NIV

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days (A)a decree went out from (B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be (C)registered. 2 This was the first (D)registration when[a] Quirinius (E)was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up (F)from Galilee, from the town of (G)Nazareth, to Judea, to (H)the city of David, which is called (I)Bethlehem, (J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And (K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and (L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and (M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in (N)the inn.[c]

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 2:2 Or This was the registration before
  2. Luke 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
  3. Luke 2:7 Or guest room
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, Caesar Augustus rules the Roman world (1-3). Luke, the historian, often weaves historical events and people into his gospel narrative. Caesar Augustus was the first and perhaps greatest Roman emperor (31 BC-AD 14). He introduced Pax Romana or Roman peace that was enforced through harsh punishment. He issued an order for all colonial peoples to return to their hometowns to register for a census. This census was designed to levy taxes and conscript men for the army. Caesar may have ruled the Roman world outwardly but his subjects longed for another kind of ruler. Second, Baby Jesus rules our hearts (4-7). Joseph and Mary had to return to Bethlehem for registration. There were no exceptions not even for a pregnant woman. While there, Mary had her baby. There was no room for them in the inn so they had to stay with the animals. They wrapped the Baby Jesus in cloths and laid him in a manger. This was too humble for the Son of God but God came to visit our world and even share in our suffering. Anyone can approach the Baby Jesus in the manger without feeling threatened. The Baby Jesus rules our hearts with perfect peace and love. O praise his name forever!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sharing in my suffering. I welcome you into my manger-heart.

One Word: Make room in your heart for Jesus