Context No. 2693 of 4322 · Luke

Luke 2:6-14: in context

6While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Here is the center of the Christmas story, told with almost no fanfare. Mary gives birth, wraps her firstborn in bands of cloth, and lays him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. That is how the Savior of the world arrives: in a borrowed corner, in a manger meant for animals.

Then the announcement comes, and it goes not to Caesar or the priests but to shepherds keeping watch in a field at night. Heaven's army fills the sky with glory, yet the sign they are given is deliberately plain: you will find a baby lying in a feeding trough. The splendor of the angels and the lowliness of the crib are handed over together, and the shepherds are told to look for God in the humble thing, not the grand one.

Do I look for God in displays of glory and miss him in the lowly places where he actually chose to come?

Sources

Philippians 2:7: "But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men."
Luke 2:7: "She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders."