The Essential Jesus (Part 7): The Birth of JesusSample

Blockbuster Truth

PRAY: Lord, the world seems out of control sometimes. I'm so thankful to have the solid truth of your Word to give me perspective.

READ: Luke 2:1-40

REFLECT: If Matthew wrote like an accountant, Luke wrote like a screenwriter. His account of Jesus' birth captures the dramatic texture that makes for a good movie: the unique dilemma of the star couple (vv. 4-7), the comic relief of the confused shepherds (vv. 8-12, 16-20) and the grand spectacle of an angel choir (vv. 13-14). The Bible shows us that God used different personalities and perspectives to communicate many angles of the gospel truth.

I'm convinced that the most overlooked characters in this passage are the shepherds, yet they seemed to come to the deepest understanding of what was happening. Smelly and low on the economic totem pole of their day, shepherds weren't the kind of people you'd expect God to speak to. God doesn't work just among the rich and famous. The Bible teaches that he has a special concern for the poor and oppressed (Psalm 35:10; 82:3-4; Proverbs 14:31), and so should we.

How this unlikely supporting cast responded to the good news is instructive today. Note that the shepherds weren't too busy to investigate the claims about Jesus (Luke 2:15); they instinctively realized that finding Jesus was important, so they made it a priority (v. 16). Next, they didn't consider the truth about Jesus a private matter. Instead, they immediately began telling others what they had discovered (v. 17) and were unashamed to worship God enthusiastically (v.20). Those are the marks of Jesus' true followers.

Luke 2:1-40 ends with cameo appearances by Simeon and Anna (vv. 25-38). In a modern movie, these scenes might have ended up on the cutting room floor, but Luke included them because they are an important part of the story. God knew the events surrounding Jesus' birth would seem unbelievable to Joseph, Mary, and maybe even us. He confirms what he was doing through these prophecies. It reminds us that God has done everything he can to tell us the truth about his Son.

APPLY: Which character in the story of Jesus' birth do you identify with the most? Why?

PRAY: Thank you, God, for going to such great lengths to communicate the truth about Jesus to me. Give me the courage to tell others the good news.