Jesus Was Born in a Manger

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jesus Was Born in a Manger

Date: Jan. 25, 2023

Passage

Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when 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, 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.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2:7

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.

There were two contrasting world events occurring at the same time. On the surface, it seemed like the world was controlled by Caesar Augustus. He decreed that a census to be taken of the Roman world. Everyone had to obey it - no exceptions.

On the other hand, there was a work of God going on. God was bringing his son Jesus, the Messiah, into the world. Joseph and Mary looked like a powerless, young couple. But God was fulfilling his promise of world salvation through them.

Caesar Augustus appeared momentarily in history and disappeared. He looked powerful but the one controlling history was God himself, not Caesar.

We many times look at our environment. We base our reality on what we see. But it is important to see and know that God is the living God. He is the one who is working, and he is the one who holds authority. Even back then, regardless of what was going on in the world, God was fulfilling his work of world salvation by sending his one and only son Jesus in a manger.

When we focus on what God is doing instead of only our surroundings, we can’t help but praise God for his work.

Prayer: Prayer: Thank God for sending his one and only son Jesus into the world.

One Word: One Word: See what God is doing!

Countless Saved from God’s Wrath by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:9-10

Today's Question

Are all sins equally evil?

See answer and references