Daily Bible Reading Thursday 25th December 2025
by William Moody
Luke 2:1–20
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when1 Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2 who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.3
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”4
15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Footnotes
[1] 2:2
Or This was the registration before
[2] 2:5That is, one legally pledged to be married
[3] 2:7Or guest room
[4] 2:14Some manuscripts peace, good will among men (ESV)
God’s plan was coming together, the plan which had been designed in eternity. The plan first spoken of in Genesis 3 when Adam fell into sin was now coming to fruition. Everything had been planned, even down to the finest detail, even as to how He would be born in Bethlehem. God used the decree of the Roman Caesar to have a census so that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem at a time of census, so as to prove that He was the promised descendant of David who would be the Messiah.
The eternal Son of God was going to be born, not into a palace, but born in humble circumstances, being laid in a manger. This was no accident but God’s plan to show that He was the Saviour of humility. He is the one who came down so low in order to lift us so high out of our sin and misery. Have you fitted into God’s plan by trusting Christ to lift you out of your sin?
In Jesus’ birth there was humility but also glory; humility in being placed in a feeding trough, glory in how the angels wondrously declare the news; humility in that the birth is first proclaimed to shepherds who were outcasts, glory in the message ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace toward men!’ It is always a constant struggle for the Christian to maintain the right view of Christ. A view that contains both His humility and His glory, His humanity and His deity. Think of which is lacking most in your picture of Christ. Do you see him as fully human? Do you see Him as fully God? He is wonderfully both, the One mediator between God and man.
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